You can’t start the review of the ‘Electro Shock Blues’ EP without mentioning Life In Real Time which has been floating around for a while on the internet. When it first appeared it was an attention grasping tune and its huge pop hooks still retain their potency. But this isn’t a single review and the question is whether Vann Music are a one trick pony or not.

Influenced by 80’s new wave electro pop, Vann Music take their nods from Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys whilst adding their own modern take. Encompassing four songs, the ‘Electro Shock Dreams’ EP is their debut offering. Of the other songs Never Want To Be Alone begins with a keyboard loop similar to early Depeche Mode before the vocals and synth are introduced in what is a soaring radio friendly pop  song. Be My Balloon just doesn’t get off the ground at all. It is a more awkward stilted song which feels out of place among its more free-flowing EP counterparts.

Rounding the EP on a high is the rapturous Into The Night which is the most pop-oriented of the four track EP. It has shades of French house and an anthemic chorus which is ready-made for belting out at festivals. It also contains Aaron Smyth’s strongest vocal performance where it swerves from melodic to high-pitched. It’s suitably over the top and wouldn’t be out of place in a movie with a maverick 80’s cop causing chaos in Beverly Hills.

The EP is immaculately produced, with the right amount of panache being applied. Life In Real Time is sure to become a summer anthem and quality songs like Never Want To Be Alone and Into The Night display that this isn’t going to be a once off. It all adds up to show that there is enough substance behind the highly stylized music to suggest that Vann Music will go onto bigger and better things.