Pulley – Different Strings 10″ EP (SBÄM Records)

It’s been a while since we heard any new material from Pulley, except for a couple of reissues that popped up on several record labels. The chances you’re into skate punk and never heard of this legendary band are nearly impossible. Pulley has been the epitome of skate punk music since its inception in 1994. The band went through multiple lineup changes but managed to release outstanding recordings, such as Esteem Driven Engine, 60 Cycle Hum, @#!*, Together Again For The First Time, Matters, Time-Insensitive Material, The Long And The Short Of It, and No Change In The Weather. It’s been five years since Pulley put out No Change In The Weather, their critically acclaimed sixth full-length album. Therefore, their latest effort comes as an essential item for every longtime fan of their profoundly melodic sound.

Different Strings carries four essential classics from Pulley‘s back catalog, adapted and arranged for acoustic performance. The band decided to showcase these compositions in a completely new light by replacing electric with acoustic guitars and entirely removing rhythmic support. You’ll solely relish new versions of Cashed In, No Defense, One Shot, and Silver Tongue Devil, which sound different than original songs but still contain recognizable melodies and harmonies. It’s nearly mindblowing how these numbers are resonating in a completely different manner while performed over acoustic guitars, but that’s what makes this acoustic mini-album even more special. Besides their recognizable punk rock melodies and harmonies, these numbers received a special treatment depending on the mood Pulley aimed for, so tunes like No Defense received a sophisticated ambient background that goes with the aesthetics of the song like a charm. This particular composition is also the only one with arpeggiated chord progressions and additional electric guitar ambiance lurking in the background.

Each number carries a slightly different vibe. For instance, Cashed In remained nearly the same, but the band plays this version at a slower pace. This moderate tempo goes in favor of the song, which sounds more appropriate for an acoustic performance. No Defense contains a beautiful ambiance, so the entire composition appears as a well-executed indie rock song. One Shot levitates somewhere between melodic punk rock and indie, and it goes perfectly with the calmy aesthetics of No Defense. Pulley decided to speed things a little bit with Silver Tongue Devil, so it seems this song comes close to some folk-punk with slightly aggressive strumming over the acoustic guitars. Pulley somehow changed the structures and arrangements of these songs but retained their recognizable dynamics that define their sound.

As far as I am informed, this idea about an acoustic set came years ago, and the group started recording these versions of the songs by the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. A couple of live streams and acoustic sessions proved that the fans are into it, so the group decided to release this material on a 10″ vinyl record at SBÄM Records. Perhaps this material lacks more tunes from their rich discography since these four songs are taken from Esteem Driven Engine, but who knows, maybe the band will work on that idea in the future. Still, Pulley performed these tunes like a pros, and the entire acoustic EP sounds like a charm. The official release date is May 28th. Until then, you can pre-order this superb acoustic EP on vinyl at SBÄM Records.