Caicos releases debut EP ‘Promised Lands’

Caicos is the name behind musician Alex Frenkel, who was one of the principal songwriters in the New York-based band Gospels.

Frenkel is in the process of completing three of his own records under the new name and Promised Lands being his first is released today (August 10) via veryjazzed records/Frenchkiss Label Group.

The lead single ‘Vega’ is an indie rock song that uses “astronomical imagery (e.g. floating in space after your home planet has just been destroyed) to describe how it feels to have your whole life’s work, plan and/or intention get turned on its head,” says Frenkel.

The track has a groovy guitar riff that sets itself away from the rest of the EP. It sounds like a mix of blues-tinged rock and roll with post-rock elements, enveloping sonic components that make you wonder what instruments they were actually created on.

‘Push And Pull’ and ‘Salvo’ carry a similar backbone to the songs in guitar and drumming pattern as Frenkel favours an atmospheric synth-like sound and lighter guitars that breeze over the beat.

Overall the EP doesn’t quite reach the ‘Promised Lands’ as I hoped it would as a couple of tracks lack that edge or kick they desperately need.