EPs are a way for artists to experiment with new styles or wet the whistles of diehards chomping at the bit for new material.

“The Rosebuds Unwind” is both.

The North Carolinian husband/wife duo has always woven indie-rock aesthetics back and forth between songs with grandiose crescendo and humbled escapades.

These six songs, more so than any on The Rosebuds’ brilliant 2003 debut, “The Rosebuds Make Out,” fit soundly into just one of these categories and fail to show any signs of the other.

The bulk of the EP holds true to its namesake: moody vocals, lounge pianos, layered strings, assorted percussion, shattering cymbals and acoustic guitars that create a plush rock throwback to the days of tiki huts, smokey jazz clubs and everything else from a 1960s vacation ad.

But The Rosebuds are best when chiming guitars ring out and keep time with danceable beats and hummable, jumpy choruses.

Thus, the somber release is bookended by the group’s two catchiest and calculated songs to date, “You Better Get Ready” and “I’d Feel Better.”

And thankfully, too, everybody needs to “Unwind” between “Make Out” sessions.