Big Hare is the duo of Luuk Ottenhof (vocals, korg er-1, percussion, montessori bells, acoustic guitar, window) and Tim Fraanje (korg ea-1, monotribe, electric guitar, ukelele, plant) from Ultrecht, Netherlands, and 'Evening Rites' is presumably their debut EP on Blowpipe, a six-track 10" on white vinyl. I know enough from other artists on the Blowpipe roster to expect the unexpected, so I wasn't completely caught off guard like I was when Rooie Waas threw me for a loop. Big Hare produces quirky synth-pop that isn't totally synthesizer oriented, although it's still a major component of the music. To a degree it reminds me of the Residents gone pop, but with cartoony vocals in harmony. Lyrics are pretty off the wall - "don't you look at mirrors with your disembodied eye, I would like you to be my spy in disguise, let me strangle you so we can maintain the lie, let's all get liquid and lucid and deny" (from "Liquid & Lucid"), but fortunately, they do sing in English. As far as synthop goes, it's fairly minimal, yet infectious. "Headphones" makes me think of Massive Attack gone bonkers. Sometimes things are just goofy, like on "March Hare" with a marching beat, odd harmonies, and lyrics that would have Lewis Carroll scratching his head. Backing vocals on "Evening Rites" sound like a chorus of kitties meowing the word "now". While Big Hare's peculiar brand of low-key synthpop may not appeal to everyone, there's no doubt in my mind these lads are doing something quite different, and that's something to be appreciated.