★★★☆

Raf Rundell is known as one half of The 2 Bears, alongside Joe Goddard of Hot Chip fame, but his first solo release –The Adventures Of Selfie Boy Pt. 1– is an interesting mishmash of new sounds which only grows on the listener.

The EP starts off a little jarring, creating uncomfortable feelings upfront. However, as you move through the six songs, they become more soothing and more enjoyable to listen to. It’s a brief set, with the longest track being the seven-minute ‘Llama Farmer’, and so you journey quickly through the universe of sounds Rundell has created.

The standout is ‘Right Time’, with its quirky tambourine and vocal overdubs creating a musical cocoon of comfort and happiness. Questions must be asked about what Rundell is trying to achieve with the bizarre and comical ‘Poor Bitch’, which promises a lot more than is given with its slightly naughty title, but the talent is clear – any criticism can have nothing to do with the quality of the music itself, but with the story of the EP overall.

But don’t cast aside Selfie Boy just yet – let yourself enjoy the flow and where it takes you.

Raf Rundell’sThe Adventures Of Selfie Boy Pt. 1is available now through 1965 Records.

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