Last year, I reviewed the debut EP from “garage prog” Canadian duo, Space Kitchen, and noted that they were worthy of following for future releases. You can read my review by clicking on the button at the foot of this review.

Well, come March 2024, we have a new EP, What’s Cookin’? The Bandcamp link is at https://spacekitchenband.bandcamp.com/album/whats-cookin

So, how is this? We open with Lovin’ 9 to 5, which, when I saw the title, gave me some understandably Dolly type goosebumps. Well, don’t worry. Although laden with their now familiar pop sensibilities, it does not resemble the busty Country dame in the slightest. It is minimalist pop rock, with a bright and breezy feel, and I rather like it. The guitar solo is very strong, there is a mellotron passage, and it is a very good track to play at the end of a difficult day at work. I have embedded it below.

Believer Deceiver is split into two, with a very short intro featuring some noodling keyboards followed by a really rather lovely piano leading us into the main piece which regrettably doesn’t follow that mood, but morphs into a sort of light psych piece dripping with the influence of 70’s pop art rockers. It is fine for what it is, but that last ten seconds of the intro promised something a little bit more epic.

Life At Sea follows. It veers between the thoughtful and the playful, sort of a cross between Harlequin and Harold the Barrel, I suppose. I really enjoy the vocals on this one, the bass melody and the guitar work is pretty, alongside some interesting keys. It is the strongest track here, a commentary on modern life, and the closing section is particularly engaging. I have embedded it below.   

We finish with My Love To You, a song which brings a sort of late 70’s simple New Wave smile to my face, epitomising, really, the descriptor they have for themselves. The guitar solo and the clap and sway along rhythm as we move to a close is very enjoyable.

I like Space Kitchen. Their music is utterly unpretentious, and it is honest in its celebration of life. This EP, as I hoped, does move their sound forward, my minor gripe re Believer Deceiver aside, and you really could do no worse than giving both EPs a spin to lighten the serious mood of 2024.