"Opportunity opens with “Where Is The Power?”, a semi-ambient noodling with keyboard sounds floating around the voice of a French instructor conjugating various French verbs. The track quickly ends, but not before establishing a slightly dreamy mood and preparing the listener to swoon over the luscious sounds to follow. The title track sounds next, beginning with nicely executed electronics sparkling over a simple beat. The song instantly becomes something special, though, when vocalist Jason Roberts croons, “I saw the light on your face turn so bright” in a slight falsetto voice reminiscent of Bryce Chambers (Ester Drang), or a Wayne Everett (Lassie Foundation). Not only does Roberts’s humble, expressive, and sincere voice shine on “Opportunity”, but the song’s melody is so strong and sweet (while sad), that the listener can’t help but be drawn immediately into the song. “Opportunity” (as all of the actual songs on Opportunity) threatens to erupt into a danceable techno-fest, but the band is able to resist this temptation, eschewing it for a dreamier approach, complete with delayed guitars and ambient underpinnings. “Antagonist” follows in much of the same vein, utilizing only a minimalist beat to give direction to the wandering guitar, morose melody, and layers of electronic accents. The guitars on this song, especially, bring out the dreampop/ambient side of the band, as the song implodes on the sounds of guitars wailing in the distance. On “Cowboy”, the electronic beat, though light, takes more of a centre stage, as its slight groove drives the song forward. Featuring yet another irresistible melody, a dark mood, samples, and a host of strange and unnerving sounds, “Cowboy” is a study in glum electronic pop, though infused with a heart of shoegaze. Opportunity winds up with “You Woke Me Upp”, the longest song on the EP at almost 6 minutes. The song combines eerie electronics with droning guitars and keys, as well as Roberts’ earnest vocals. Building slowly to a dense yet not overpowering instrumental postlude of lingering guitars and keyboards over minimalist beats, “You Woke Me Upp” finally shuts down in a haze of static and subtle vocal samples."
- Brent of somewherecold.com (11/1/05)
"The mellow quality of Scenic Square's Opportunity is perfect for one of those lazy weekend afternoons. The entire 5-song disc maintains a relatively even beat throughout creating one of those albums that seems to flow into one long song. The band even goes so far as to intertwine the odd, French spoken-word into every song, creating even more cohesiveness.
'Where is the Power?' is merely a showcase of the band's instrumental talents. Overlaid with a spoken word, this is simply an intro to the rest of the disc. When the title track, "Opportunity" begins it becomes clear that this is the "first single" song. The heaviest of the album, it is definitely the most memorable. The voice of lead singer, Jason Roberts, matches so well with the evenness of the music that you are instantly comfortable with the song.
The middle songs, 'Antagonist' and 'Cowboy' seem to get lost somewhere in the album. It isn't that they aren't solid, it's more that they are the glue that holds the album together. Sandwiched between more memorable songs, they become the base for which the others can deviate. They flow well, and seem very similar in sound.
The final song of the CD is much like 'Opportunity'. 'You woke me Upp' almost seems to begin where 'Opportunity' left off. It is more a variation on the first song, than its own statement. But this familiarity again helps create a comfortable feeling to the entire disc. This band is safe in an exciting way, and with this album 'Opportunity' awaits."
- Meghan Williams of openingbands.com (?/06)
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