Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Movement (New Words)

Los Angeles-based six-piece electronic / acoustic pop outfit Letting Up Despite Great Faults originally formed in 2004 around the central core of principal songwriter / vocalist Mike Lee and this seven track EP represents their debut release on Californian label New Words. Occupying similar territory to the likes of The Postal Service and Electric President, much of “Movement” shows LUDGF combining delicate acoustic guitar and piano elements with dry-sounding programmed beats to create dreamily wistful atmospheres, seen most potently on sweeping, string-laden opener “Disasters Are Okay’, which reveals the vague influence of Bright Eyes lurking somewhere in the background. Elsewhere, there’s a tangible New Wave pop edge brought to the forefront on both the title track and the electro-infused “Mixtape Receipt” that calls to mind more the sorts of synth-pop fixated explorations likely to be found on Modular, or perhaps even Whitey’s drum machine-driven indie-pop. While there’s certainly plenty of pleasant listening to be had, on the whole this EP perhaps doesn’t leave that much of an impact; fans of the likes of the Morr label should still find much to like.