Photo by Hayley YoungArtist: Pearly Gate Music Album:

Big Escape, a 7-inch singleLabel: Barsuk RecordsRelease Date: Last weekRating (Skip, Stream, or Buy):

BuyThere’s a chance–an off chance–that Pearly Gate Music’s May full-length could be unexpectedly amazing. Zach Tillman, the man behind the band, writes perfectly lovely songs: he’s got the charming solo-folk-musician-thing down pat. “Big Escape,” the A-side on his 7-inch single of the same name, is upbeat with pop sensibility, and Tillman layers his echoing voice in a very Fleet-Foxes-esque manner. The single is being promoted by Barsuk as a “teaser in anticipation of the full-length release,” and “Big Escape” is what exactly you’d anticipate the whole record to sound like (self-titled due May 18).But Big Escape’s version of “Sleeping with Bears”–the B-side, which won’t appear on the May full-length–is much darker and synthier than the one Tillman recorded for a Daytrotter Session in February. This some serious, Joy Division-styled instrumentation, with Depeche Mode basslines thrown in. It sounds innovative but still emotional; if risk-taking is Tillman’s game, he’ll break free from his singer-songwriter persona and release the Ian Curtis within.