Isabel Rex are a three-piece from South Carolina and the latest addition to the Z Tapes roster. Headed by Reid Maynard (formerly of Olive Drab), the band make the kind of lo-fi indie rock that Z Tapes have made a name in discovering. The cassette combines two of the band’s recent releases, American Colloquialisms and Two Hexes, resulting in a great five-track EP. Just to add to it’s credentials, the songs were mastered by Warren Hildebrand of Orchid Tapes and Foxes in Fiction fame.
‘Swirly Bird’ kicks things off with some rattling, rumbling lo-fi indie rock, beginning watery and distorted and then bursting into full volume, as if a loose connection works itself into place around ten seconds in. ‘Quit It’ is a change of tone, with delicate piano and acoustic guitar, but as the track proceeds the percussion grows in influence, at times becoming the lead instrument and building to a stormy reverberation. ‘Arm of Wood’ returns to the garage rock of the opener, while the acoustic guitars on ‘My Hex’ make it the sunniest and breeziest track on the EP, even if this isn’t true of the lyrics.
“Mom I’m sorry
Dad I’m changing
little brother I don’t want you to hate me”
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‘Bites of Our Lives’ closes proceedings with some lo-fi jangle pop, a cool ending to a cool EP. If you’re a fan of previous Z Tapes releases then I highly suggest you check out Isabel Rex. You can get American Colloquialisms / Two Hexes on cassette or digital download via the Z Tapes bandcamp page or the Isabel Rex Bandcamp page.
