Little Girls

A couple of years ago, Little Girls (the solo project of Josh McIntyre) was the talk of Toronto, with their hypnotic, fuzzed-out sound. It wasn't long before he signed to Paper Bag and released his debut, Concepts. Since then, they've switched labels and the project has turned into a four-piece band, but those major changes aren't immediately obvious on their first release for Hand Drawn Dracula. Cults doesn't offer anything new, in that McIntyre is still relying on the same tricks as before: clanging post-punk rhythms hidden below distorted guitar and synths with muddied vocals that are close to indecipherable. But despite that rather unoriginal formula, Little Girls are still managing to find a larger canvas to paint on, and this is the EP's saving grace. While lead track "White Night" still suggests Joy Division, closer "Nights Out" has a touch more New Order about it, suggesting that album number two will continue that gradual shift along the Factory timeline. And, more importantly, it's just enough to make Little Girls sound fresh again, which bodes well for the future.