There’s a lingering note midway through “RainBounce,” a thoroughly enjoyable song on Reptar‘s EP Oblangle Fizz, Y’all, where lead singer Graham Ulicny lets out an unusual but recognizable yelp. I couldn’t quite place it, so I went back and listened again only to be struck (and stuck) by its familiarity, whether implied or accidental.
Then it hit me — Reptar is sounding all Cee-Lo amidst the many other musical noises it’s churning, and the reference had me at full grin. Cee-Lo’s secret power is his catchy arrangements and surprising voice make you perk up whether you want to or not. The same must be said for Reptar, yet another band to emerge from the band wonderland of Athens, Ga., which in five songs created a wealth of lasting musical moments.
Reptar is on the cusp, boasting a riotous stage act with upcoming dates at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, and Oblangle Fizz, Y’all serves as the band’s declarative statement of purpose. It spends the 25-minute EP playing with beats and tempos, sounding pure pop one minute, afro-beat the other, throwing in bells and whistles (literally), alarm clocks, bird sounds and maybe even the kitchen sink. Each song is stuffed with adventure, making it impossible not to listen to Oblangle more than once.
“Blastoff” is the opening salvo, a twisty ride of chants, dance grooves and electronica — it changes moods the moment it becomes too comfortable. The quirky opener makes way for the funky “Stuck In My ID,” a straight-up cool jam with a potent guitar hook throughout. This funkiness elevates on “RainBounce,” and it’s here the band’s past work with producer Ben Allen (who’s worked with Sean P. Diddy Combs, Gnarls Barkley and Animal Collective) finds overt influence. Ulicny takes great joy using his voice as a seesaw, stuttering consonants in happy cadence. What makes “RainBounce” the EP’s top track is the abrupt shift of pace, when the easy rhythm become a torrid spitting of words and sirens. Odd, yes, but fascinating.
By the time “Phonetics” rolls around, there’s not much Reptar can do to stir and surprise, so it doesn’t. Instead “Phonetics” builds into a sing along before falling back to a playful mix of piano and lyrics. When Ulicny sings “And all of these emotions buried deep in emotional oceans/ You spend the rest of your life finding out what they do,” you only need to nod. Oblangle Fizz, Y’all is the wave of the future — one worth discovering piece by piece.
