Mystery Jets - 'Diamonds In The Dark EP' (679) Released 04/09/06

Mystery Jets build on the success of ‘Making Dens’ with an EP as playful and as colourful as a bag of marbles. The EP features two versions of the title track both very listenable with the single having Smiths like guitars with a far more oddball jingly jangle topping. The Smiths link doesn’t end there as the EP version is produced by Morrissey/Smiths stalwart Stephen Street who is most recently known for his work with Kaiser Chiefs. This is worth buying simply for ‘Scarecrows In The Rain’ which is a more than fitting homage to the late, great Syd Barrett. The Mystery Jets have always been vocal about their admiration of Floyd’s front man and so the words ‘bandwagon’ and ‘jumping’ aren’t applicable here. It’s suitably chaotic and fragile with poignantly apt lyrics like "Can a person be happy if you’ve never seen them laugh?" Far from being melancholic the acoustic guitar and tinges of psychedelic playfulness keep the song full of warmth. The best track of the EP that begs to be listened to.