The liner notes seem to say it all: “Bravely written and delicately recorded by The Hero Cycle.” Bravely written indeed; this gang of seven doesn’t just hint at obvious influences like Built to Spill and Broken Social Scene, but beats what makes those bands great to a pulp and mashes it together into a sound that’s just as nostalgic as it is punchy and innovative. And as for delicately recorded, the production here is certainly astounding, allowing every song to flesh out while remaining crisp and focused, keeping every track sounding polished without sounding unctuous.

The guitars are at the forefront here, as The Hero Cycle’s three guitarists make economical use of only twenty-five minutes to layer upon layer every stray riff and hook they can find; try and imagine Built to Spill’s Perfect From Now On compressed to about half its size to get an idea of the sound of Lakes & Ponds. The first half of “American Proxy” is a minor stumble, as The Hero Cycle briefly veer dangerously close to Hold Steady territory, but Lakes & Ponds otherwise offers a collection of undeniably catchy songs about as urgent and energetic as they are melodic and melancholy. If anything, The Hero Cycle’s only fault here is that they clearly have far too many ideas to jam into a mere five-track EP; expect to hear an even more developed full-length LP coming from this bunch in the near future.