Frown Pow’r is a garage rock outfit from Arkansas, who released their full-length album Don’t Doubt It, Shout It in 2009 and made a splash with live shows full of booze and sweat at the time. It took a while, but a slightly expanded line-up* is ready for the future with F.P.E.P., featuring three new songs in which quite a lot happens. In terms of sleeve design, they stick to the same black-and-white op art style – fifteen years ago a cat was depicted, now a dog named Lemon – but their sound is now more varied and heavier, less folky and psychedelic. You’ll hear a raucous mix of styles such as dance punk, indie rock, krautrock and country blues, with memorable choruses but above all with an unbridled groove. Opening track I.K.F. is a catchy hit that’s over before you know it, but the five-plus minutes of Solomon Says really show what this motley crew is capable of. Apparently we can expect more, and that’s something to look forward to.

F​.​P​.​E​.​P., recorded/mixed/mastered by Mike Purcell and produced by Marshall Dunn, is out now digitally (self-released). *Featuring JT Tarpley (vocals, guitar), Marshall Dunn (guitars), Paul Fennig III (slide guitar, treated acoustic guitar), Charles Murphy IV (bass), John Thomas Martin Babb (mandolins, broken effects pedal), Lemuel Hayes (drums, percussion) and Blake Phillips (drums, percussion).

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