(Shelflife)

www.shelflife.com

Housed in yet another gorgeous Shelflife gatefold 7" with a cd on a spindle (cd has 6 songs while the 7" has 2) comes the American duo of Drew Diver (Ohio) and Jacob Graham (Florida). Did I say Ohio and Florida? Yes, I did but while listening to this you, like I, might think these guys hailed from a far off land like Oxford, England or Glasgow, Scotland as their supple synth melodies brings to mind the best of the Sarah Records stable.  As they stated in the press sheet, "We both grew up listening to The Smiths nonstop and we've spent our entire lives trying to write the strongest melodies we possibly could." And it shows.  They created the songs via the U.S. Mail (a la Postal Service) and the hard work on the melodies certainly paid off.

"I Can't Decide' is pure Field Mice from the sighing vocals to the sticky melodies (and let's not forget the omnipresent drum machine) while "Changing Winds' could become the dance club hit of 2009 if enough djs gave it a chance. The title track begins with a grand opening and then swirls into dreamville while "Hay Come Back!" is the song every 17 year old needs to put on his next mix tape to get the girl of his dreams back. With very few missteps, Horse Shoes are onto something here, now all we need is the next John Hughes (r.i.p.) to put their music in his next movie.

Recommended Tracks: "I Can't Decide", "Hay Come Back!", "The Imperial School", "Changing Winds" TIM HINELY