Energy Slime have to be one of the more aptly named bands of the 2010s: on their debut EP,
New Dimensional, Vancouver synth poppers
Jay Arner and Jessica Delisle burn through ten tracks in 13 minutes, yet everything blends into a fluorescent ooze. In that short amount of time, the duo covers a full-length album's worth of sounds and moods, ending each track before it has a chance to wear out its welcome; the
Syd Barrett-esque "Mother Brother Sister Father" gets a just-right 30 seconds, while "Bustin' Up"'s lo-fi glam rock and "Star on the Ground"'s spacy pop hover close to the two-minute mark. While
New Dimensional's more fleshed-out moments suggest that
Energy Slime could be much more than just a side project for the couple, Delisle and
Arner keep the focus on having fun. The way they hop from the bouncy "Cool Ship II," a standout featuring Delisle's vocals, to the chugging "Why U Wanna" to the breezy "So Long Snakes" recalls
Ween or
Ariel Pink at their most freewheeling. Striking just the right balance between goofy and catchy,
New Dimensional is a whirlwind of fun. ~ Heather Phares