After listening to The Foreign Resort’s self titled EP, I’m left wondering about the origins of the band’s name. Could a Foreign Resort represent our desire to escape what haunts us? To vacation from all that we’ve lost or cannot change? The album’s cutting and confessional lyrics paired with a well-executed combination of shoegaze and post-punk revival stylings makes for a memorable listening experience. There are hints and echoes of older influences such as Joy Division and The Cure, without ever imitating or being contrived.

The EP starts off with ‘Colleen’, an edgy, energetic track full of yearning and jangling guitars. Next, is ‘Orange Glow’, a multi-layered synth wash with a tinge of Shoegaze that still holds an interesting tension. My personal favorite is ‘Heart Breaks Down’ which displays both the band’s versatility, and that of Jakobsen the vocalist. It has a slower, more atmospheric vibe which conjures The Cure or even cold wave greats The Asylum Party. For a moment I was transported to a velvet clad teenage crush, swirling and dancing through plumes of clove-smoke. The remainder of the album returns to the Post-Punk leanings, staying interesting through great vocals, lyrics, guitar tones, and thick textures.

Song by song The Foreign Resort emphasizes the indelible; and in so doing, have become so themselves.

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