Burlington, Ontario's Kosmonaut are one of those bands that rehearses in the studio, records an EP worth of songs, and then prepare it to be sold at their very first show. Brothers Brent Wirth (bass and vocals) and Brian Wirth (guitar) run their own studio, but this kind of effort still goes a long way as a display of the band's determination to get it right before playing their first gig. And for the most part, they did.

'Vostok-1' attaches a theme to this band, and one that isn't exactly too common in music; Russia. Their EP artwork, website, and songs all reflect Brent's somewhat involved study of the country. After listening to opening track "Gimn Sovetskovo Soyuza," which is sung partly in Russian, I was afraid Kosmonaut was gonna be a full-out Russian band, without any actual Russians. Fortunately the lo-fi anthem, which is nevertheless an enjoyable listen, is followed by something much more developed. "Revolution Never Comes Without A Few Dead Friends" and "Popcorn Waltz" are both great examples of the eerie indie pop that results from the bright guitar jabs and keen noodling of Brian and Brandon Kearse backed by Sachin Monga's retro keys. "12:34" slows down the pace, but showcases Brent's ability to lunge for high notes as well as sooth the listener with a calm lower range, to create a melodically rewarding song. "Finding Our Way Home" is even better, rounded out with what sounds like a banjo, subtle ambient harmonies and a harmonica. This is my favorite song on the disc. To close off the EP, "Turn Right" is a toe-tapping exploration of keyboard washes, dueling guitars and backbeats.

Production-wise, this EP has a lot of good ideas and songs are set apart well by them. One major improvement that could have been made was to use real drums instead of what sounds like synthesized drums, creating a more authentic sound. But from the sounds of things, these guys will do quite well for themselves if they keep things up. Recommended tracks are "Popcorn Waltz" and "Finding Our Way Home."