This is the debut album from the Barnsley quartet whose EP received a solid review from this website at the end of last year.
The album continues in much the same vein and includes all of the three tracks from that EP.
A mixture of soft/classic rock with a slight country twang, the band’s musical ability is evident as song after song they
follow intelligent stop-start patterns. The big difference on many of the new songs is that the rhythm section has taken
a step forward – something that marks out the psychedelic country waltz Rabbit Soup as one of the stronger tracks here.
Talkin’ Circles, the lead track from the previous EP, is still well in with a shout as the best track on the album with its
curious lethargic feel and singalong backing vocals. Another highlight is feedback and wah-wah-heavy opener Stars & Guitars.
But the fact that these are the opening three tracks on the album is unfortunate as it draws more attention to the fact that
their intriguing take on 1960s psychedelia isn’t pursued further – instead the band has a dangerous knack for leaning towards
Nickleback-esque overblown ballads and Sunday morning light rock, You Said... and Metrospect being the main culprits.
Closing track Wellington Street Crash shows that the band can take on the rock-ballad and win – and by using flutes! Once again
the band’s biography was keen to emphasise that they are different from their peers and, once again, I would be happy to agree.
If they could just drop the American drive-time radio tracks they would have a brilliant album aswell.
