Want to shake your hips in that new summer dress? The beat to this song will make it difficult not to. Ideal for the intense summer of 2012 heat wave, A Lull presents the lead single from its recently released EP, Meat Mountain. The five-track showing follows Confetti, the Chicago group’s debut album. If abnormally high Midwestern temperatures didn’t influence these upbeat and inspiring tunes, then the sheer prospect of summer did.
As Chicago continued to bake, this quintet put out “Summer Dress.” A clear diversion from the overall sound of Confetti, “Summer Dress” is marketing genius. The funky percussion superbly uses rests and spacing to allow for an easily danceable rhythm. The seductive lyrics repeatedly implore a wanted girl to join her man. Saxophone bursts and sprinklings of flute further lighten the “Dress” and make it appropriate outdoor attire or picture perfect as an inner city summer anthem.
The album continues with the dreamy and breezy “Beaches” before three tracks that continue to show off the group’s love for unique and powerful percussion. Lead singer Nigel Dennis gives way to more and more instrumentals as the EP progresses and the day’s warmth lingers into the night air. The cover art for Meat Mountain leaves little to imagination as it features a close-up of the marbled intramuscular fat comprising a steak. Need more hints that this is an EP built for summer? If not the entire album, “Summer Dress” is ready for the grill and best served hot.