Wintering - Close Enough (EP Review)

Taylor Dooley was put on my radar a while back when Bad Apple Records sent over a press release saying they had signed Traveler, a band that Dooley is in. The Traveler EP is due sometimes this year and in the meantime Dooley has decided to drop a solo EP under the moniker Wintering. Her first release under the moniker comes in the form of the four song EP Close Enough.

The first song on the album and title track "Close Enough" is a great introduction to the sound and style of the EP. It has a very singer/songwriter vibe with heavy folk leanings. Dooley's vocals highlight the songs and her vocal talent is hands down one of my favorite parts of the EP. Throughout the EP she showcases her vocals and shows that she has some pretty impressive pipes. "Take It Back" shows Dooley's vocal ability wash over the song with a nice charisma. The recording captures a big, full sound and Dooley's voice echoes through the song in a really neat way. "The Wrong Side of the Fault Line" closes the EP and is probably my favorite song on the EP. It has some really nice 90s alternative tinges. The vocals and lyrics are really interesting.

The production and mixing on the EP is nice. The way the guitar is mixed really compliments the vocal performance and it sounds really nice and smooth for the most part. I mentioned it above but I really like how the vocals were produced and recorded. They have a nice echoing and at times kind of haunting quality to them. It sounds like they were recorded in a massive room. That might be a testament to just how strong Dooley's vocal ability is.

I can see fans of indie/rock, acoustic singer/songwriters, as well as fans of country music enjoying aspects of this EP. Dooley's voice definitely has a southern vibe to it on certain songs at times. I can see you getting into this if you are a fan of artists similar to Rachel Brooke. I can also see you enjoying it if you are a fan of classic "emo" bands like Rainer Maria or The Rocking Horse Winner. This is a good EP and definitely makes me more than interested to hear the upcoming Traveler EP. Check this out!