“Coward” by Moonshake

The extended play or EP is often considered the least marketable format for record companies. Pricing is hard to establish; releases are longer than singles, but not long enough to be considered a full length album. This underappreciated format found resurgence in the US in 90’s though. Bands like Ugly Kid Joe and Alice in Chains sold millions of copies and dragged attention back to a recorded musical format originally conceived as early as 1919.

Long before these American bands found success, the UK Indie music scene had been releasing EP’s for years. The British record buying public supported thousands of newly formed groups still developing and honing their crafts. One of my favorite EP’s from this time period was Moonshake’s first EP. Still heavily featuring future Laika frontwoman Margaret Fiedler, it was the perfect mix of cutting edge and soothing pop.
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“Coward” is a wonderful example of this combination. It’s an upbeat number that bounces like an English folk song, while remaining true to its shoegazing roots.