InnerPartySystem - The Download EP

Genre rock Publisher Stolen Transmission External Links Official InnerPartySystem Website Stolen Transmission

One has to give Sarah Lewitinn credit; she knows how to find the next big things in music. When Lewitinn announced that Stolen Transmission would be signing InnerPartySystem, that was a sign to all the hipsters to check this band out, and with good reason. InnerPartySystem's The Download EP might be short, but it succeeds in leaving listeners eager to hear just what else the band will come up with for their first full-length.

"Don't Stop" is perhaps the best-known song off InnerPartySystem's album and has gained added attention for being licensed for the EA video game, FIFA. The song is a fantastic start to the EP and will likely appeal to those who, admittedly or not, have a soft-spot for dark electronica, perhaps even going back to some of Depeche Mode's work. Even though some of those similar qualities exist in the song, it is much more danceable than DM. The song slows down in tempo and ceases the pounding beats about two-thirds of the way through, but IPS ramps things right back up to finish the song.

Continuing with the solid and fun tracks, "The Way We Move" is sure to be a hit with those fans of British bands like The Bravery and Interpol. The track still has that slightly dark sound to it but is careful of not taking it too far or making it too melodramatic. To top things off, the track has a chorus that is almost impossible to get out of one's head and truly makes listeners want to get up and dance.

The Download EP also features two different versions of "The Lovers Dancing," and unlike other songs where even one version is too many, IPS succeeds yet again. The original version is catchy and slightly less fast-paced than some of the other tracks on the album. Following this is the remixed version, also a good addition to the EP. The remix goes even heavier on the electronica and throws in a dash of industrial for good measure.

EPs can be frustrating because they only give listeners a taste and frequently that isn't enough. However, fans of InnerPartySystem will have to be patient and, based on the strength of The Download EP, the wait will be worth it, perhaps even more worth it knowing that the band is working with engineer Mark Needham (The Killers, We Are Scientists). Until then, these few songs will have to tide listeners over.