Irish ten-piece Toucan release their second EP So Easy To Love You on 22nd November. This latest release follows the success of their debut self-titled EP back in 2018. Their 2018 single We Fell For Miles reached number 1 on the iTunes rock charts and they’ve received over 1 million streams on Spotify.
The EP kicks off with Another Lover which is intensely electrifying right from the off. Describing the track as funky would be an understatement. Electric guitar strums and synths vie for your attention as each soar wildly. When the instrumentals kick in the track feels reminiscent of M83 with an added 80s party vibe. Lead singer Conor possesses a deep, hearty vocal which blends so well with the layered harmonies. The chorus is incredibly catchy and the multiple vocals all singing in unison further add to the singalong vibe of the track.
Honey bursts onto the scene in a flourish of trumpets, with the funkiness still going strong. Trumpets are prominent on this track but when coupled with the heavy beat and electric guitars it’s like jazz with a 2019 twist. Conor’s vocal is as smooth as the track’s name and once again blended effortlessly with the harmonies. The lyrics are addictive and incredibly clever, especially the line “you’ve got me sinking to the depths of this saccharine lagoon, and it’s got me thinking I wouldn’t mind being fossilized in this golden hive with you.”
The tempo is taken down a few notches on the opening of final track Warm Morning. Polished vocals are stripped back and coupled with just a few keys and a gentle beat. There’s a slight speakeasy vibe at the start of this track and the tempo gradually builds as the track progresses. The beat picks up on the repeat of “something, something feels so right in this warm morning light, can’t deny and it’s aright and I haven’t even started my day.” The intensity of the vocals, keys and beat grows with every repeat to end in one final flourish.
So Easy To Love You is one of the most exciting EPs I’ve heard this year as Toucan know how to grab you right from the start. The tracks are so uplifting and I love the blend of retro 80s electronica coupled with funky vibes and jazz leanings. They’re definitely ones to watch as they carve out their own place in the music charts.
Find out more about Toucan here and have a listen to their 2018 single We Fell For Miles below.
To accompany the release of So Easy To Love You on 22nd November, Toucan are touring the UK this November/December so be sure to catch them at one of these shows:
14th November – The Garage, Glasgow
15th November – Night People, Manchester
16th November – Nell’s, London
17th November – Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick
5th December – The Academy, Dublin