Glaswegian quartet with a debut album that's set to change your life. There are 12 tracks and each one of them is a winner on an album that you'll simply never get sick of hearing.
Things kick off with “All Your More Buoyant Thoughts” as the drums shuffle in over which a jangly guitar riff climbs, under which deep bass rumbles and it's all topped with a distinctively Scottish lead vocal which also climbs through the tumbling arrangements and verses, briefly multi-tracked, with purpose and conviction as the song drives solidly along to what's a clear hook which, although brief, has its effect on a slowly building anthem of a composition. Shortly after the towering chorus, as the band's now sounding huge, the arrangement drops back briefly, only to be then joined by what sounds like a full bras band in flight as they band joins the proceedings and it all fires up only to stop abruptly. Then the band alone and a huge choral section plus the lead vocal takes it all to a final burst of chorus, absolutely different and yet refreshingly familiar, it's an old indie in a new guise. Things get even better for “Without The Help Of Sparks” as one of THE most commercial slices of indie songwriting and arranging drive into view, the accented, impassioned singer delivering the verses to perfection as the jangly guitars sing in the background, the rhythm section chugs along and the song climbs into the first of many repeated hooks and choruses, so memorable, they're swirling around your brain after the first listen. Verses and choruses of its observational lyric regarding love and life pour out as the song twists and turns, ebbs and flows, ultimately dropping back to the sedate chorus that rises to a crescendo in its repeated vocal as the guitars catch fire in a jangly way and the song weaves its solid and straight forward path to the stars.
“Sea Fearing Legs” is an anthem of a song, again its subject of observational love and relationships most prevalent, the lead and multi-tracked vocal sounding suitably contemporary on a solid song that stumbles and chugs along on waves of drums and bass, the guitars ringing away in the background and all around, as the lead and multi-tracked verses and choruses deliver with emotion and desire on what is a truly uplifting song. “The Observer” slows things down to a solid ballad pace as the lead vocal moves right upfront above crisp sounding acoustic guitar, staccato drumming and rumbling, flowing bass, the lead vocal passion joined by exquisite vocal harmonies as the song strengthens and unfolds in all its full-sounding glory, the intensity slowly piled on as the vocalist sounds like the guy out of Australian band Hot Kicks and the song starts to climb – and climb – the guitars gather their forces, harmonies soar in the background, the singer takes off on a flight of a chorus and the rhythm section flies as the song leaves earth orbit once and for all.
“Chapel Doors” is a ballad – initially delivered on wistful vocals and strummed, resonant acoustic guitar, the effect just gorgeous as the ringing lead electric guitar joins in above deep seated electric bass and the peal of bells that is this sound backs the impassioned, slowly moving vocals, to perfection, the arrangement both stark yet cozy at the same time. Again, the vocalist lifts the song to a greater plain with a hook full of slowly graced angst. Eventually, it strengthens its density a little with a very distant electric guitar riff as the whole thing turns briefly into an anthem before finally dying with the light. “St Michael's Bells” is a bouncy little number starting right into the verse with acoustic guitar strumming away madly as the bass runs in, the drums crunch in the distance as the lead vocal and accompanying harmonies deliver a fast-paced song with intensity and conviction, yet that vocal is just so haunting and captivating, so wondrous is the singer's sound, phrasing and emotion that are poured into each and every line, on another short but so sweet gem of a song. “Fly Straight And Always Wear Sensible Shoes” starts slowly but soon takes off as the rhythm section rolls forward at a fairly brisk pace while the singer delivers the emotional verses with a real conviction as you get the impression that he's feeling every word with deep passion as another addictive song drives along complete with mesmerising verses and catchy hooks, this time a harmonica added to the jangly, ringing guitar as the song flies along with electro-acoustic dynamics well in place and its repeating verse and hooks rolling round and round to absolute bliss on a seriously solid song about the yearning nature of romance.
“Circus Place Lane” starts with rippling acoustic guitar as the vocal enters, the drums crunch in, the bass rumbles and the band starts to rise and flow with intensity as the song flies up the dives down, the distinctive vocal rising and falling with the arrangement as a sense of almost sixties-meets-contemporary indie is felt in the arrangement, while the song is perfectly up to date and, although a straight series of verses telling its tale, keeps you hooked by way of its delivery, its dynamics, the intricate detail to the arrangements and the solid foundations on which the song flows majestically along. “Two Lovers” starts slowly so that you think it's going to be a ballad but it gather strength and pace as the song gathers steam, the initial vocal romanticism solidified with drums crunching away, the guitars riffing in hordes as the bass runs underneath it all and the intensity of the song rises and falls as the hooks hit your head with insistence and the whole song lifts you up and takes you off, sung and played with passion, the arrangement gathering pace and density as another massive slice of emotive delivery glides into view and another unforgettable chorus sticks around for the duration.
Finally, there's “Seek Cover”, as tender a way to end an album as they come for its initial verses, but then the presence of tumbling rhythms, ringing guitars and intensifying lead vocals turning the thing into every bit a classic example of a Scottish indie anthem as the voice just soars, that accented vocal a thing of greatness, the song itself memorable and taking to the skies with every bit of emotion as you';d expect of this band by now, the arrangement huge and flying, the vocals even moreso, and a suitably dynamic and strong way to end what's been a faultless example of Scottish indie songwriting and arranging.