Hand numbered and limited to 500 copies, this simple-looking split 7″ joins two bands from the upper Midwest in musical matrimony. Stepleader provides the listening public with “Seeing is Bereaving”, a sundry number that lives on the border between grungy pop and emo. The pristine guitar work brings to mind Number One Cup, as it weaves in between tight drums and a chorus that ties everything together. While the vocal presentation is a bit muddy, it’s inoffensive, ultimately creating a cohesive glue for the instrumentation.

Fly Everywhere stakes claim on the other side with the Thrush Hermit inspired “Yeah, Cliffhanger”. This raw-edged, low-key track includes a lightweight keyboard breakdown in the middle, which teeters on the brink of sugary pop stardom.

Overall, both bands show potential and have a definite musical objective in mind, but neither fully reaches its proposed idealistic musical state, leaving you clawing for something a bit more tangible. A whirl through this 7″ leaves you wondering if either Fly Everywhere or Stepleader have better offerings in their respective musical arsenals.

Splendid

Stepleader are a bit more on the heavier and upbeat path than than Fly Everywhere. The ending of the song reminds me of Mineral or something they could do. All in all, this is a really good record for those enjoy the indie rock!

Invisible Youth

Everything on this seven inch is split, it seems. That includes the contributions. Fly Everywhere’s track is simple and subtle; the vocals could use some work, but it seems to be a sub par performance in sufficiency. Stepleader, on the other hand, is a summer thunderstorm on the horizon. Jangly, without being childish, it is dark and luminous in a simple way. Catchy with good vocals and a nice breakdown in the middle to add to the emotional sincerity. Besides, it’s on Sun Sea Sky, so you know it’s gonna be good. These guys were supposed to play a show recently at the AO House here in Goshen. I wish they could’ve made it. I would’ve liked to see them play this song during the summer.

Action Attack Helicopter

On the split with Stepleader, Fly Everywhere’s contribution, “Yeah, Cliffhanger,” is a bit looser than on their own 7″. But the song retains the unique vocals and layered, melodic guitars. There’s more of a rock feel, ala Cursive without the emphatic power approach. And the keyboards come in with an almost dreamy retro feel. Stepleader fit nicely with their track, “Seeing is Bereaving.” The song is a little faster, and the vocals remind me of bands like Seven Storey Mountain, while the song itself doesn’t approach that band’s hardcore feel. More like The White Octave, this band kicks in the driving guitars and multiple guitars, but it has a nice melodic feel, something akin to the slower Fugazi songs.

Delusions Of Adequacy 

Two bands I know very little about are sharing a record here. Fly Everywhere are on side A and they are playing 1997 emo rock, sounding like the Promise Ring and Braid with those patented “I’m a boy!” vocals and some jazzy riffing like Bells On Trike. Parts of the melodies on here sound exactly like a Fountains of Wayne song (I can almost sing a long “Joe Rey, came from Spain, across the ocean in the frozen rain!”), but they throw in this neat bit with synthesizers to break things up and make it sound different to all that ‘97 stuff. Overall their song is tuneful and pretty and I rather liked it. This goes well with their 7″ that they also sent me and you can find for review on here somewhere.

Stepleader are playing indie rock, and I think they sound like a cross between Braid and the Foo Fighters. The verse parts are nice and bouncy and then they accelerate into the grungey rockout for the chorus. They would fit onto a Deep Elm comp very easily. And I have to say it washed over me to be honest.

So, Fly Everywhere wins this split with their downbeat melodies and prettiness. Rock on.

Collective