Highlighting a critical left-turn in the sound of Tiny Magnetic Pets, the EP is their first new material since their celebrated third album, ‘Blue Wave’ (2021), described by Electronic Sound as “emotional pop for uncertain times”.
‘Blue Wave’ reflected on the strangeness of the lockdowns prompted by the global pandemic, containing tight electronic songs with moments of bluesy swagger, all framed by vocals that nodded in the direction of Berlin’s Terri Nunn.
Live performances supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres ‘In The Dark’ and a Vince Clarke remix of key ‘Blue Wave’ track ‘Automation’ brought the trio of Paula Gilmer (vocals / synths), Seán Quinn (synths / guitar) and Eugene Somers (drums) to a broader audience.
‘Harmonious Grey’ heralds a new, darker direction for the group, both in terms of arrangements and also lyrics. Written during a new era of global instability and uncertainty, the darkening skies of geopolitics provided fertile ground and inspiration for Tiny Magnetic Pets’ new songs.
The EP represents the sound of a group exploring the wider emotional reaches of the dark wave synth form, and delving deeper into personal experiences, while never losing sight of the qualities that have always made their music such a compelling proposition.
The ‘Harmonious Grey’ EP is led by first single ‘Low Places’. A reflection on the unreliability of the people you trust, ‘Low Places’ is built from a sinewy sub-bass line, insistent drums and minimal melodic interventions.
Those elements combine together into a persuasive retro-futuristic glam-disco stomp that places ‘Low Places’ on an axis between Goldfrapp’s ‘Strict Machine’ and Human League’s cover of ‘Nightclubbing’. We find Gilmer alternating between spoken word observations in the verses and fiery, angry resolution in the song’s defiant chorus.
“It’s about people that you thought were your friends, or who were supposed to be on your side,” explains Quinn. “That is, until you needed their help. I’m sure everyone has experienced this at some point.”
While it was often suppressed, the group have always flirted with darker impulses. On the ‘Harmonious Grey’ EP they have allowed the clouds to gather ominously above their music, creating new pathways into different sounds, emotions and textures. Where ‘Magnets & Ghosts’ is an ambient lullaby, ‘Autopilot’ delves into bitter reflections on finality and the drudgery of routine over a huge beat and intense bass line.
In the lyric “Gradually losing touch never troubled me all that much”, from the big melodic title track, we find a group fully embracing those more reflective, contemplative impulses that have been hidden in their music since they formed in 2014.
The ‘Harmonious Grey’ EP is a taste of Tiny Magnetic Pets’ vital, bold and exciting new direction, anticipating a new album produced by Gareth Jones, scheduled for release in late 2025. The ‘Harmonious Grey’ EP, just released on 23rd May 2025 is now available on CD, download and streaming.