Heat & Hot Water – ARMS Heat & Hot Water – ARMS (Download)

When a new band is recommended to me, few things please me more than reading the phrase “free EP download.” Countless bands have been introduced to my MP3 player this way and many have inspired me to search out the act’s next show. ARMS’ 2010 EP, simply titled EP, is one such offering.

ARMS singer and guitarist Todd Goldstein began to write under this moniker in 2004 while playing guitar in Harlem Shakes. Shortly after the Shakes disbanded in 2009, Goldstein recruited drummer Tlacael Esparza, and bassist Matt Fasano to fill out the group. What has resulted is a clever balance of inspired songwriting accompanied by complex soundscapes.

At first listen, one can see how this EP could be born from thumbing away at an acoustic in a quiet bedroom. But more interesting than their conception is the noisy ambience that has found its way into the final incarnation of these tracks. Plucky guitars with stuttering delays, ambient falsettos, reverb soaked drum samples, and subtle mood inspiring bass lines convey a powerful feeling of solidarity and introspection.

One of the strongest examples of this is the song High Heels. What starts off as a vocal centric song, takes a path into one of the most complex and satisfying ambient environments on this EP. Talented as they are at arranging these parts, ARMS steers well clear of strictly being a tribute to the ambience itself. Rarely does much of any time pass without introducing the next verse or chorus. And with Goldstein’s calming voice weaving melodies throughout, I am glad this is the case.

There’s no mistaking that ARMS put a considerable amount of time into deciding what sounds would reinforce the foundation of these songs. One can’t help but come away from this little EP agreeing that it was time well spent.  I give this EP an 8.1 out of 10.