Sometimes an EP is all it takes, and while Bedhead aficionados will likely mention other songs or releases as better starting points, for brevity and impact The Dark Ages perfectly captures the gently stripped-down feeling of power and hush that the group made its own. The title track is a slow-build stunner — comparisons to the Velvet Underground don’t apply here so much as similarities to Joy Division, in the way the music insistently grabs in the listener, especially in the almost triumphant final minute. “Inhume” takes an instrumental approach with similar results that are almost as fine, while “Any Life” introduces some country jangle and twang in the guitar set against the low-key vocals. At 15 minutes long, it’s worth every second. – Ned Raggett