Ex Cops
Brooklyn, NY
Yo La Tengo, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Luna
Brooklyn may or may not be the hipster capital of the free world (which probably irks some folks who radically push back against the stereotype), but I feel I may not be alone when I imagine every Brooklyn bedroom as a virtual breeding ground for the surge of indie pop projects that stem from NYC’s cooler younger sibling. And again, I may or not be alone, but I imagine these bedrooms are littered with handpicked vinyl, second-hand guitars and miles of Radio Shack cable, to serve as a foundation for musical influence and a borderline rally cry: let’s listen to a shit load records and then record our own. Introducing Brooklyn’s Ex Cops – a dizzying array of infectious pop influences delicately obscured by soothing harmony and immediate catch.
Ex Cops began with Brian Harding (formerly of Hymns) and his initial bedroom project merging with Amalie Bruun (formerly of Minks). Having first met backstage at a Clean show and again at one of Amalie’s shows, the two began working on some demos, eventually partnering with Other Music Recording Co (the first signing for the fledgling label) and releasing the EP You Are a Lion, I Am a Lamb - two incredible songs that demonstrate their immediate influences while serving as the sonic bookends for shoegaze sensitivity and upbeat jangle pop.
After fleshing out their sound with the addition of friends Kai Kennedy on guitar, Leif Young Huckman on bass and Sam Bair on drums, Ex Cops released their full-length debut True Hallucinations in early 2013. It's an album loaded with hazy hooks, dreamy melodies, and fuzzy guitars, kicking open the bedroom doors for ears of the world. Cemented by their incandescent harmonies, Ex Cops drift through a variety of tempos, haunting background voices, and eerie instrumentation, proving that certain hallucinations may indeed be true.
Love this band!!! My kind of music!!!!