Statistics Statistics

The merest mention of Omaha, Nebraska is enough to make most indie rock fans salivate because of one man  Conor Oberst. So the thought of a new side project by a member of Desaparecidos is like a dream come true for many people. But before you get a little too excited, the member of Desaparecidos in question is Denver Dalley. Dont get too depressed though because Dalley did co-write the songs on Read Music/Speak Spanish, so it isnt quite the anticlimax that it might initially appear. Statistics is very much Dalleys own project  it doesnt sound a whole lot like his previous band, and that alone could scare some people away. Yet over the duration of five songs, he manages to touch upon a wealth of influences such as Stereolab, National Skyline, New Order and Talk Talk. That should imply that theres a heavy reliance on electronics, although when he does finally dust off his guitar (on "Hours Seemed Like Days in particular), things sound a lot like Sugar used to. Dalley covers a whole lot of ground for a five-track EP, and while it seems unlikely that he can keep up that frenetic pace on his full-length debut (due at the end of the year), theres enough talent on display to recommend keeping an eye on Statistics. (Jade Tree)