Top 10 EPs Of 2012

The EP has been written off many a time as a dying art form, but the truth of the matter is that the format still serves as the perfect introduction or album interlude.

With many an EP boasting hidden gems, here at The Yorkshire Times we decided to take a look back over the last 12 months and compile our Top 10.

10. Parnell Page - The After

One word - POIGNANT

Stand out - 'Statue'




What do you think are the key features of an EP?

Richard: 'The After' is essentially a break-up EP. Inspired by love, loss and longing. We used 'Autumn' as a metaphorical back drop - after the summer before the winter. That middle place.

Describe your EP in a sentence...

Richard: Mildly folkish pop EP about love and loss.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Richard: We wrote and recorded the EP in 3 weeks and the entire process was produced at home. The most exciting thing is that it was our debut and the first time ever we both made music.

What is your favourite song on the EP?

Richard: 'Statue'. I wrote 'Statue' in 30 minutes. I wanted to write a song about eternal love. I liked the concept of statues because their purpose is to be a tribute to someone for life. Statues are unyielding, dedicated and set in stone. Just what you hope honest love should be like.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

Richard: Our focus for 2012 was to be more confident as live artists. By understanding different audiences and working with various instruments and musicians, we feel like we've achieved our aim and this has definitely had a positive impact on our writing and production. 2013 will be an exciting year for us. We feel more ready and inspired to make great music.

9. Carly Connor - Last Love

One word - TINGLE

Stand out - 'The Road'

{S:https://soundcloud.com/carlyconnor/carly-connor-last-love-free}

What do you think are the key features of an EP?

Good tracks and something to make the listener sit up and pay attention. Hopefully we've done that on this EP.

Describe your EP in a sentence...

ROARRR..ha ha urm, WALKING. It's the title of one of the tracks on the EP!

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Working with Kid Harpoon. He's amazing and so great to work with.

What is your favourite song on the EP?

'Last Love'.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

I'm looking forward to the album coming out, so this EP has given me some great confidence ahead of the album.

8. Shields - Kaleidoscope

One Word - INFECTIOUS

Stand Out - 'Turning Corners'



What do you think are the key features of an EP?

Luke: I think it's an opportunity to show an artist's overall depth and sound, but should leave you wanting to hear more. An EP should be like a good introduction or synopsis to a story; an album is the telling of it. Hope that makes sense!

Describe your EP in a sentence...

Luke: It is colourful, dynamic and emotive (hopefully!).

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Luke: The recording process mainly took place during the early hours of the morning so most of the time everyone was in that weird exhausted-but- totally-wired state. Thinking back it all feels a bit like a dream. The highlight was probably getting it finished as it was quite an ordeal (but totally worth it).

What is your favourite song on the EP?

Luke: My favourite song on the EP is 'Miserly'. It has space to breathe where as the others are all pretty full on.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

Luke: Not to record only at night and that sunlight is very important for your health. Loads of geeky recording techniques. That the energy of a piece of music is far more important than getting it note perfect.

7. MS MR - Candy Bar Creep Show

One Word - JUXTAPOSITION

Stand Out - 'Hurricane'



6. Paper Aeroplanes - Time To Be

One Word - LUSH

Stand Out - 'This Land Won't Shake'




5. Colour The Atlas - Colour The Atlas

One Word - UPLIFTING

Stand Out - 'Snow'




4. Lovelife - The Fourth Floor

One Word - DISTINCT

Stand Out - 'The Key'



What do you think are the key features of an EP?

To me, 'The Fourth Floor' is like a short film. It has a beginning, middle and end. The twist is track 3 ('Your New Beloved') and the moral comes with the finale ('Invisible'). I'll try not to give any spoilers away...

Describe your EP in a sentence...

I'd say something that wouldn't do it any justice.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Being in NY is such an overwhelming experience in itself. The sights, the smells, the sounds. It is impossible to not be influenced by it. We record everything ourselves so I relive the recording process every time I hear the songs.

What is your favourite song on the EP?

'Your New Beloved'. It came together very quickly. It's a heart wrencher.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

Make sure you back your files up before Hurricane Sandy comes to town.

3. San Cisco - Beach

One Word - KOOKY

Stand Out - 'Beach'




2. Charlotte Church - O N E

One Word - STIRRING

Stand Out - 'How Not To Be Surprised When You're A Ghost'



What do you think are the key features of an EP?

Well, they ought to be short. Structuring an EP is very different to doing an album, it forces you to be ruthless with song selection; it should be the best of what you have to offer.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

The whole thing was pretty fulfilling. There are loads of great moments in the process; from hearing a song you love as a demo, through finding the perfect arrangement to the first listen-back of a final mix you're really proud of.

What is your favourite song on the EP?

I think 'Beautiful Wreck' maybe doesn't get as much love as it deserves, but I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favourite outright.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

You're always learning, which is part of the point of doing a set of five EP's; it's a journey and it will be fun to see where it ends up. We're working faster and more decisively now. Where One took a long time to get together, we got a lot of Two pretty well on the way in only a couple of weeks!

1. Young Peculiar - Young Peculiar

One Word - IRRESISTIBLE

Stand Out - 'Way With Words'



What do you think are the key features of an EP?

Bernadette: It needs to be concise and varied, but also have a clear sound/theme running through it.

Describe your EP in one sentence..

Bernadette: Restless, bolshy, delicate and entirely contradictory.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Mike: For me, it would have been doing the final mix on 'P.G.R.S'; I'd been gradually chipping away at it for several months and it was a long time before it clicked and I managed to get the balance I was after.

Bernadette: Having a finished product, ha! Recording took so long because we had a few issues with studios at the beginning of the process. I also really enjoyed playing my violin on P.G.R.S., that was a lot of fun.

What is your favourite song on the EP?

Mike: Probably 'Red and Gold': it summarises a lot of the things I love about our music, some nice chunky chord voicings, a hearty dose of funk and the recorded proof that I can actually play it properly sometimes.

Bernadette: It's hard to choose a favourite as they all mean so much to me... 'Red and Gold' is a lot of fun to play, and 'Way with Words' will always be very close to my heart.

What have you learnt from this EP that you can apply to your next?

Mike: There's no need to rush these things, it's far better to get it right and take a little longer.