Back in 1993 Daryll-Ann switched from Solid to British label Hut, a subsidiary of Virgin specifically aiming at new talent. For a short period the band remained in the company of the likewise debutanting Auteurs and the Verve. Daryll-Ann's international career kicked off with two beautifully crafted EPs. Released within the course of a few months in 1994, both I Could Never Love You and Come Around showed some major improvements in terms of production and musical approach. After Renko, all bandmembers seemed to have put their minds to a slightly more focused style of playing, using every mean to its right effect and presenting some strong material on the way. Original lead singer Coen Paulusma had quit the band earlier and was replaced by his brother, Jelle. The departure of Coen created more room for guitarist Anne Soldaat to develop his potential as a singer and songwriter. His talents shine through on both of the EPs' title tracks, of which I Could Never Love You was proclaimed "single of the week" by British magazine Melody Maker. "I could never love you/There's someone who will/I could never love you/I'm alright but still/For some strange reason/We attract at the same time we pair/I could never love you"; hearing it for the first time, it's hard to neglect this potential indie dancefloor filler and instant recipe for avenging yourself upon the girl you tried to seduce so desperately, but tried to convince yourself it was the other way around. On the singalong Come Around, the use of banjo and harmonica added an element of country-rock that was until then unknown to the band's repertoire. Elsewhere Soldaat's She Is I'm Not (from I Could Never Love You) and Paulusma's Doll (from Come Around) show the band's deeper shade of melancholy: a final stage in transition to what would become next year's sublime Seaborne West and the staggering genius of the 1996 release Daryll-Ann Weeps. Tragically, the band would change labels for a third time; as a consequence, neither EP is in print. Some tracks were temporarily available, gathered on the U.S.-only release Daryll-Ann. ~ Quint Kik, Rovi

1		I Could Never Love You
2		Friends
3		She Is, I'm Not
4		My Last Call

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