For many up-and-coming bands, getting coverage on music blogs and online publications is difficult, but retaining that buzz is even harder. One way to at least stay in the picture is to not go into hibernation, but to continue to pump out music so to remain relevant. Chicago’s art rock duo My Gold Mask are using this formula to ensure the buzz they garnered from their excellent January 2010 EP, A Thousand Voices, doesn’t fizzle out. The year isn’t even done, and already we have a a brand new four-track EP from the duo of Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo that shows a different, more pop-friendly approach to their sound but is just as mesmerizing.

My Gold Mask really broke through earlier this year with the haunting-yet-addictive A Thousand Voices track, “Violet Eyes”. But the EP wasn’t a one song wonder – it followed in the footsteps of “Violet Eyes” with three more songs that featured dark lyrics and soaring vocals on top of Armondo’s sleek, groovy nylon-guitar powered riffage.

Now on A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), the band’s sound hasn’t completely changed, but it’s the mood of the music that’s quite different this time around. The veil of darkness and mystery that made A Thousand Voices such an intriguing listen has been pulled back a bit on A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last) and replaced with a more pop stylings including big vocals hooks and even a purely fun cover tune.

The EP begins with “Ghost In Your Bed”, which seems to bridge the gap from when we last heard My Gold Mask on A Thousand Voices. The song begins with eerie, echo-y guitar work that gives way to Rochelle’s always melodically on-point singing but eventually builds up to the second half which features Armondo showing off his vocal skills in a duet with Rochelle.

The single “I Don’t Need The Reason” features an extremely delectable, Siouxsie and the banshees-esque hook of, “I don’t need to know the reason why you’re leaving”, which is aided by Armondo’s mechanical, twisting fret work. “Bobbi” is a ballad in the purest since which opens with Armondo’s reverb-heavy, 1950′s-influenced guitar work. But the track really find’s its heart in Rochelle’s lamenting, howling vocals and explodes into a high octane version coda complete with crashing cymbal working from Rochelle.

My Gold Mask put their own art rock spin on the new wave classic “Bette Davis Eyes”, which was made famous by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes. The swirling synths from Carnes’ well-known version are replaced with creeping guitar. Also, while Carnes’ gritty vocals made hers a pop hit, Rochelle’s vocals are never rough, and she hits all the right note with ease.

A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last) is probably the perfect move that My Gold Mask could have made at this point in time. Rather than making something in the same vein as A Thousand Voices and trying to replicate the dark catchiness of “Violet Eyes”, they decided to make an EP that’s purposely not their last release. This time around, My Gold Mask are letting it all hang out and sounding as if they’re simply having fun, and the fact that the band is able to do so without it affecting the quality of their music is quite something.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Catch My Gold Mask on Friday, November 12, at Schubas for the A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last) record release party. Tickets are available right now at Schubas.com for only $10.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Preorder the A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last) limited edition vinyl and stream the EP right now at Mygoldmask.bandcamp.com.