Photo by Juliette Boulay

Seeing Greg Mendez open for Angel Olsen last week during her solo stretch of tour dates was the definition of church and maybe the best way to be introduced to the Philly songwriter’s work properly after admittedly sleeping on last year’s self-titled breakthrough. Mendez needn’t be too detailed or gussied up with his sound — the simplicity of an acoustic guitar and the hum of a keyboard will do just fine when there’s an earnest emotional weight behind his plainsung song. “First Time”, the first preview from his new EP — and first since signing to Dead Oceans — First Time / Alone, is one of those occasions where he has you and another hanging onto every syllable gently falling from his lips, watching him wilt before you. “Maybe I’m only / Looking for someone / To break me down / And push me around / Ruin my gently,” his voice cracks and nestles into the blanket set of warm keys surrounding them. I’m not sure if there’s even anyone left in the room with him by the time the listen reaches its end, but something tells me he’d feel in good company singing to an audience of one in the dark.

Greg Mendez’s First Time / Alone will be released October 18th on Dead Oceans.