I never knew that the EP is that rare, I can't even remember where I bought it, or that it was very expensive (actually the sticker's still on it, it was 3,90 in euro's). I think I just wanted to complete the collection. Although I just have 7 albums, according to Wikipedia, I only miss Noctourniquet and a Live EP.
About the EP, never really listened to it, and this is quite an eye-opener. Actually the sound isn't that bad. I'll just write along as I listen.
The first song is quite cool, takes a lot of guts to open your first EP with a song like this. As always I don't have the faintest clue what the songs are about, English isn't my main language, and although I really think I can understand most English, I can't maken anything of all the random words Cedric is screaming.
Concertina isn't really that great. The songwriting sounds more poppy (could be the At The Drive In vibe, I've never heard a song by that band) but way too restless to be poppy. I do like the basswork in this song.
Eunuch Provocateur foreshadows De-Loused in the lyrics, but that's about it, I believe (apart from breakbeat in the outro, that's on De Loused right? Or is it on Frances?). I like the songwriting more in this track, the song could've done without the vocal effect in the verses though. I love the keys in the second part of this song.
Overall I think it's a good debut EP, they we're still looking for their own sound, and that's okay. The soundscapes/beats are very cool. I wish they used that more in later work.
The biggest plus is the bass playing, and Omar himself of course. The biggest flaw, imo, is Cedric. Impressive to see how much better he had become when De-Loused came out.