Not since the days of The Cranberries has a band been able to take us on an ethereal journey. But those whimsical melodies and eerie vocals are back with the sounds of Mad Planet.

The gender-balanced duo released their debut album, All Elephants, about a year ago. We have always been a fan of mixing the sounds of female and male vocals and instrumentals on a track. And Mad Planet reminds us of just how powerful this blend can be.

Mad Planet is channeling across another year with the release of their EP, Gliese 581g, which features four tracks off their upcoming album, Goldilocks Zone.

With the leading track, “I Want You” off of their EP, Mad Planet is able to harmonize male and female vocals ideally, while adding an inviting tempo. Vocalist and bassist Cooper Gillespie adds edginess to the song with her vocals and also shows her ability to experiment with range, while staying perfectly on pitch. Drummer, bassist and keyboardist, Greg Gordon, establishes a poignant beat that strengthens the fanciful aspects of the track.

As the EP continues, the tracks, “Blue Today,” “Sunset Blvd.” and “Set On Fire,” seem to complement one another and enhance their musical intensity. No complaints all around with this EP, only praise.

Gliese 581g is not a word people will drop in just any ordinary sentence, but the EP’s name does have an intriguing meaning. The planet Gliese 581g is light on one side and dark on the other, which is a characteristic found in the lyrics of the tracks of Mad Planet.

Feel yourself already swaying away to Mad Planet’s tunes? Well drift a little bit more and catch them on a multi state tour from California, to Arizona and to Texas for the South by South West festival.

Check out the band’s official website for more tour and album information.

We urge you to trust us on this one. Mad Planet is exactly what you want to listen to when your head is full of clutter and in need of relief.

By Lonnie Nemiroff