Charmparticles dazzle their listeners with their mix of shoegazer and indie-pop in this thirty-minute EP. Its six songs cover a plethora of radiant colors and moody melodic textures, through the feel of ethereal bass lines, rampant splish-splash percussion and atmospheric vocals. From track to track, this record is lush and sophisticated, full of elegance, wit and romantic power, a blast of deeply emotional and resonant music. Look for Pamela Rooney’s heart-wrenching vocals on “A/O,” and Adam Wayne’s crafty songwriting on “Solvent” and “Stand Up For Leaving.” You may feel they were immediately influenced by the bands of nineties shoegaze, though perhaps there is much more to be discovered in the heart of their music. There are quite a bit of dazzling hooks and haunting harmonies layered briskly over the warmth of atmospheric tones. - Shawn M. Haney

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EPs like this one are always the most difficult to review. The six tracks comprising Sit Down for Staying – retro shoegazer through and through – aren’t particularly original; but then, originality isn’t always directly proportional to quality. The band itself, though eminently capable, can’t lay claim to any outstanding talent or singular creative vision. But again, neither of these is a prerequisite for a solid, appealing release. There is plenty of melody, rounded out by a fair bit of passion and verve. Nothing about this disc feels insubstantial.

And yet, and yet. Sit Down for Staying, once seated, never really takes off its coat and hat and demonstrates its staying power. There’s no clear reason why you might be listening to this disc a year or even a month from now. Songs like “Sixty-Four” and “A/O” – more specifically, Pamela Rooney’s evocative vocals on these tracks – ask for second and maybe third listens. “Solvent” and “Phone and Finder” have a distinctive Catherine Wheel allure to them. But none of these songs is powerful, inviting, enveloping or subtle enough to merit a permanent spot in your music collection.

There is, however, enough evidence on Sit Down for Staying to suggest that this Portland, Oregon-based four-piece is just finding a stylistic foothold. They still might have the ability to surprise us. When it arrives, their debut full-length will be the litmus test. – Eric J. Iannelli

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They may be based in Portland, Oregon, but Charmparticles has a decidedly anglophilic bent, frequently evoking shoegaze in their dreamy, texturally saturated music. However, the quartet prevents this from being an exercise in nineties nostalgia by infusing their songs with a strong strand of pop sensibility, with powerful hooks and anthemic delivery. These characteristics are particularly present on "Stand up for Leaving," which sounds like Travis at their most vocally mellifluous. "Solvent" pits propulsive rhythms and dramatic singing against the layered wash of guitars.

" Phone and Finder" sound like Brit-pop on steroids, with falsetto vocals that recall Coldplay against a backing track that would do Slowdive proud. "A/O" is a truly ambitious and atmospheric track, exploring a variety of textures and employing haunting vocals over the course of its seven-minute duration. Perhaps all that's left in the post-millenial era is juxtaposition of styles rather than stylistic innovation; but if that's the case, I'd rather hear Charmparticles' blend than most others. - Christian Carey