7/10

London-based trio The Concierge continue their form with 'Check In', a quietly ambitious debut EP that wears its homegrown roots and collaborative spirit like a badge of honour. Crafted in bedrooms, spare rooms, and home studios scattered across the city, this five-track project is a patchwork of personal reflection, musical exploration, and understated pop craftsmanship.

What makes 'Check In' stand out is the strength of its songwriting and the chemistry between its three members; Duncan Haslam, Phil Joyce, and Robert Melkumyan. Born from long-distance collaboration and stitched together over two years, the EP captures the kind of magic that only happens when the right people finally find each other.

Musically, The Concierge take inspiration from across the decades. The warm intricacies of ’70s studio rock brush shoulders with the bittersweet sweep of ’90s alt-radio and the crisp sheen of modern synth-pop. But instead of sounding scattered, 'Check In' feels considered, like a mixtape made by close friends who grew up on different records but learned to speak the same language.

'Others Do' is the emotional core of the EP, a shimmering, slow-build anthem for anyone trying to break through inertia. It’s as much a nod of solidarity as it is a gentle push toward the sunlight. Meanwhile, 'Movie' leans into denser territory, pairing sharp-edged instrumentation with lyrical unease in a world that often feels more dystopian than documentary. A standout guitar solo cuts through the haze, offering a cathartic release in a song that simmers with tension.

Elsewhere, there’s subtle experimentation. Whether it’s ambient guitar textures, clever use of delay, or the tactile feel of electric drums used out of necessity rather than choice. Far from feeling limited by their at-home setup, The Concierge seem to thrive within those constraints, using every tool and trick at their disposal to build a distinct atmosphere.

The EP ends on a reflective note, leaving space for what comes next. And judging by their plans for a follow-up release, 'Check-Out', their journey is just getting started. If 'Check In' is about tentative first steps and finding common ground, what’s to come promises to be bolder, louder, and even more collaborative.