The Persian Leaps are a Minnesotan trio who’ve been picking up plenty of positive attention since the release of their debut EP, Praise Elephants, in 2013. Next month the band release that EP’s follow-up, Drive Drive Delay, and have made a track from the EP, Pretty Boy, available for streaming.

As melodic indie rock goes, Pretty Boy is up there with the best of them. At just over two minutes long it’s a superbly executed slice of noise-pop that sets itself up, sprays hooks all over the place, and leaves you wanting more of the same. The Persian Leaps are often compared to bands like Teenage Fanclub; in addition the band cites as influences artists such as My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths and Guided by Voices. To these ears, though, there’s a strong sense of what R.E.M. were shooting for but missed so badly with Monster (and these ears love R.E.M., so that should be seen as nothing less than very high praise).

Drive Drive Delay is out on September 12th, via Land Ski Records. Look out for a review here soon…