3 out of 5

Label: Arborvitae Records

Produced by: Steve Lamos

As the whiny, tinny (presumably synthesized) horns kick in at album’s (EP’s?) start, yup, it has that note of emo indulgence one might expect from an electronic sideproject from a dude from American Football.  But it’s not… slinking into anything too overly precious.  ‘In A Silent Way’ errs on the side of robotic and distant, enough so to keep you curious as to where this may lead.  …Which is to getting your socks knocked off by the frenetic drums that kick on ‘Laughing With Me,’ which extends for several minutes, winding its way through different combinations of beats and keys that are rewardingly nuanced.  ‘Pitfall Harry Meets His Match’ follows, bringing the name’s glitch-electro suggestions to bear for the best; another impressive track.  And given more time, DMS-the-side-project might’ve turned into a strong and defining debut.  Relegated to an EP of material means the filler is much less filling, though: the minor ditty of Shirts & Pants and the underwhelming closer SOS (which is like a downplayed version of the EPs better songs) don’t have anything else to butt up against and raise the album above average.