Crosses : "Permanent . Radiant"

Chino's side project with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez. It used to have more of a witch house feel, and as production values raised over the year has a more of a Massive Attack feel and at many points on the album you could say it sounds like an electronic version of the Deftones, without the screaming, but Chino rarely does any of the more aggressive vocals these days. He does his trademark softer croon on the opening track. His vocals are layered much like he has been doing on the past few Deftones albums. The guitar sits back in the mix and stays at a reserved chug, serving as more of an undercurrent. There is a more of a pop feel to "Vivien" that has passages that recall the bridge of Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time". 

They continue down this path with the smoothly flowing "Cadavre Exquis". The vocals are really well produced, though stick within the bounds of what is tried and true Chino and continues to move in this song like this is a Deftones ballad. The guitars are mixed pretty far back and just blend into everything else."Day One" is the last song on this album that makes an attempt to have a defined mood and personality of its. Not sure if this is going to grow on me as it is a little too happy for my tastes and sounds like it should be on the "little Mermaid Soundtrack as the drum programming takes a similar cadence as steel drums. 

The vocals are pretty much what carries the more 80s synth wave influenced "Holier". While the drum programming is a little weak on this one the other elements compensate, and the fact it is darker and more urgent also play to its favor when it comes to my tastes. It does however conform to the overall mood of what they do. The last song ends things with more of a fizzle as there is not a lot to it. Feel likes a dreamy Depeche Mode b-side ballad that never made it to an album. Overall this ep works more than it doesn't I will give it a 9.