Great Northern: Sleepy Eepee

Billed as a prequel to last year’s Trading Twilight for Daylight , this brief but beautiful five song offering finds L.A. band Great Northern operating with a balance of majesty and grace. With guitarist Solon Bixler and keyboardist Rachel Stolte trading lead vocals and combining for ethereal harmonies, there’s more than enough vocal bliss to go around; with the pair’s musical chemistry on full display, the band comes across as a hazier, dreamier version of their So-Cal counterparts Rilo Kiley. Each gorgeous song shows off the band’s musicianship and knack for creating diverse and emotionally satisfying musical arrangements. Drummer Davey Latter adds a sense of momentum to the proceedings and, with the combined work of three quality musicians, each track has a brilliant glow. Especially memorable is the EP’s opening couplet: “Loose Ends” and “This Is a Problem”.