polaroids of androids

Stevie Nicks Hearts is a collection of neatly packaged songs that exist in the almost uncharted area between pop music and bedroom electronic experimentation. The E.L.F - who was once known as Darren Cross from Sydney's Gerling - has created a sound that almost breaks semi-mainstream Australian electronic free from it's stigma of constantly being ten metres behind the rest of the world. In the end, however, Cross plays it safe and creates an EP that contains a bunch of nicely arranged songs which border on being original and exciting but end up sounding as though they have been pulled back at the last second to more comfortable safe ground.

The opening title track starts with a promising piano loop (daytime soap theme song?) that makes way for a somewhat lackluster disco-ball gazing tune. As with all of the tracks on this release, the song finds strength in the contrast between Cross' lazy vocals and the up tempo celebratory melodies. Cockroaches, which has enjoyed significant radio and YouTube love, is the lowest point on the EP. The neatly formatted pop song is set on following a flat, linear path that layers recycled stock scratch and orchestral samples with a handful of orginal elements.

Billie plays a lot more to the strengths of The E.L.F with the high pitched vocals and fragmented beat fitting snuggly together. It does, however, eventually fall into the same safe patterns as the rest of the EP and although it is the most catchiest tune it is still has firmly set up camp in safe territory. Takemeback sounds a lot like a home studio computer artist attempting a stadium-sized epic track. It works surprisingly well with the tempo changes adding the kind of unexpected twist that seems to be missing from the rest of the release.

Maybe it's the expectations of loyal Gerling fans that stop The E.L.F from busting out and adding more creativity to his work. Maybe it's an attempt to grab a wider, Triple J-ish audience. Whatever it is, the lack of creative movement on this EP is the one thing that will ultimately limit our interest in the future endeavors of Cross' alter ego.