Though by 1996 the flurry of acclaim that once surrounded the Wedding Present had long since subsided, the band could still count on a contingent of die-hard fans eager for new material. Following a year of relatively little activity, the group started 1996 with a new bassist (Jayne Lockey), releasing Mini, this six-song EP produced by Cenzo Townshend. What, by the track listing, appears to be a series of car songs is actually a familiar batch of heart-on-sleeve love obsessions from the pen of singer David Gedge. From the word go, the band is bursting with tightly controlled fuzz that has the tendency to eclipse the voice of their frontman. It doesn't help that the sound of Gedge's thick tenor has difficulty cutting through the mix. This creates a sense of claustrophobia that is ultimately a part of the Wedding Present's appeal. The singer's voice seemingly lodged between the spoken-sung musical poles, guitars weave angular yet sweet guitar hooks around him or stifle his mutterings with an overdriven blur of chords. Yet the struggle of Gedge's voice to find its way through the clutter often seems to mirror the struggle of his lyrical protagonists. The Wedding Present has always enjoyed the immediacy of the single and EP formats (note their infamous Hit Parade of 1992), so this release can hardly be considered a stopgap affair. The quality of the material makes Mini both a fine introduction to the group and a must for longtime followers. ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide
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