Soul-Psych coalition Ex Reyes released their latest EP, Do Something on Nov. 4. Mikey Freedom Hart is the brainchild of Ex Reyes and leader of the crew of musicians he has recruited to help him make this EP. Do Something is a dense, highly imaginative EP that embraces the sounds of bands who no one has thought to combine until now. Each track is multifaceted in that they each explore many different places, flowing from bright timbres to dark ones within seconds.
Hart takes on the role of a modern Bee Gee in the introduction to the EP, “Bad Timing.” This song features high-pitched vocals, an expansive arrangement and a lofty melody that ultimately resolve to a high-powered jazz-psych conclusion. Hart’s emotion emits through the speakers and it is impossible to not groove in affirmation.
“If You Come Running” is a bright love song with highly influential percussion that forms the mold for the beginning of the song that then evolves into a synth-induced paradise. Hart thoroughly emanates The Beach Boys with this hula-hooping song.
“Only You” is a dreamscape of a song that sonically tip toes through the love dilemma that is troubling Hart.
“Keeping U in Line” has a Motown vibe with tinny percussion and strategically placed vocals that sway from punchy to free falling. The bluesy guitar line is emphasized by the reverberation that encapsulates the song.
Hart gives us a break from the thick creativity with acoustic, vocally ambiguous “Hard to Stand.”
“Punch Talk [The Way You Want]” ends Do Something with a meticulous arrangement that imitates what I imagine we would hear if we were abducted by a rock spaceship. The way this song fills a room with its wall of sound gives off the feeling that we are trapped in Hart’s fantasyland.
Ex Reyes took the opportunity to do something completely original with Do Something and they did so seamlessly. With Hart’s direction, this EP has easily become one of the most ingenious musical works of 2016. There is a space in the music industry that is specifically carved out for whatever Ex Reyes has in store for us next.