Surtsey releases new EP ‘Nothing Doing’

Hailing from the Midwest of the USA, Surtsey is an indie quartet who’ve been sharing their unique sonic vision with the world for almost fifteen years. With a breezy folk sound tinged with the echoes of country and wrapped up in pop-focused songwriting, Surtsey offers a sound that’s timeless and guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who hears them.

Back in 2010, they unveiled their sound with the debut three-track EP titled Broken Beds, before taking an extended hiatus from releasing original music. Returning eight years later, they linked up with Missouri-based outfit Jailbox on the single “Bird Rib” and again collaborated with them on the song “Spotting Wendell” in 2022, a year which also saw their most recent effort, “Lyrics & Birthdays” in November.

Now the four-piece group is back, bringing us their most ambitious release to date with their brand new five-track EP, Nothing Doing. After joining songwriting courses led by Buck Meek at the School of Song, Surtsey took their five freshly penned pieces to the studio in St. Louis in Missouri. Capturing the perfect snapshot of the latest chapter of the Surtsey musical story, the new EP delivers a superb run through of the band’s stellar songwriting talent and musicianship panache on a release packed full of sweet melodies, intricate arrangements and engaging vocal work.

Brought in by the bright vocal twang on “Stick,” an upbeat scene takes hold as the instrumentation tumbles into place over the light shuffle of the drums. With warm bass notes and acoustic guitar strums capped by the dancing flourishes of slide guitar, dazzling vocals backed by lush harmonies cast an enchanting country outing brimming with wide pop appeal and indie charm. The perfect showcase of the band’s catchy writing and sonic talent to bring the composition to life in a playful way, “Stick” presents an enduring and memorable sound that sets up the EP.

With “Knot to Force,” the band slows the tempo with a delicate acoustic guitar backing for the elegant vocal performance. The lilting sway of the rhythm jumps with the gentle strike of drums and pulse of bass, the track builds with a folk rock vibe as the lightly gritty texture of guitars sees the song take off to create a grooving jam full of infectious melodies and enveloping instrumentation that flows to a psych rock inflected finale.

“T-Shirt / Avalanche” brings a bouncy energy and expressive vocal leads riding above an uptempo country sound of flickering slide guitar and lively drums. Bringing an irresistible rhythm and chock full of bright melodic leads, it’s a stunning song of two halves as the arrangement breaks down to give way to a downtempo and atmospheric sound to offer a sensational demonstration of the band’s experimental approach while maintaining a cohesive sound throughout.

On “Useful” the band delivers a graceful display of the tender side of their musical output. With mellow rhythms from the pattering drums and poignant lyricism threaded via alluring melodies, the song builds with blissful layers of guitars and bass while slick rhythmic switch ups and hazy guitar textures collide in the final moments to inject exquisite moments of sonic flair.

The EP closes with “Barley & Cherries” with its lilting acoustic guitar intro met by soft vocal lines to craft an intimate indie folk sound. Smokey slide guitar lines snake through the minimal arrangement as hushed vocals carry delicate melodies to create a soothing and inviting conclusion to the band’s truly brilliant new EP. Delightful and original from start to finish, Nothing Doing sees this talented band continue to go from strength to strength with a release that’s sure to strike a chord with new fans and old alike.

Listen to Nothing Doing below