Photo by James Thorpe

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 15th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

For those that may have worried about the future of the band The Floe when the foursome went their separate ways, don’t worry, the two remaining members of the harmonious group, Sarah Springett and Liz Townsend, have regrouped, re-energised and gone back into the studio to record a stunning and sensual new E.P. The aptly named Simple Pleasures captures the two talented women at their very best and at their most dedicated.

It would have been an easy for two remaining members of this beautiful band to take stock and do what so many others have done and call it a day and perhaps resurface a few years later in different bands and with a different ethos. Fair play to Sarah and Liz though as the music they have created for this new offering is comparable with everything they have done before and in some regards, tops it and gives the vocalist and keyboard player new importance within the music fraternity.

The release contains five songs which utilizes Sarah’s incredible Siren-like voice which just doesn’t lure you to the rocks to have your heart broken, it gently grabs your soul and makes love to it. When you combine the ghost-like fingers of Liz Townsend gently playing on the keyboards the result is devastatingly haunting. Tracks such as Lady Bravery and Don’t Look Down capture the imagination in a way that reaffirms that good quality music is alive and well and doesn’t need a gimmick to carry it through.

Simple Pleasures is more than just an E.P., it gives hope to other bands that face a break up that no matter what, sometimes it is easier and more productive to keep going, even if a slightly different form. Just don’t let go of your principles and change the way your core audience have perceived you.

Ian D. Hall