I first encountered John Blek and The Rats via the charming 2010 video for ‘Take Me Home’. It was a rambunctious affair, full of homemade cannons, cars and chaos.
Now, after a triumphant few years on the live circuit, they have finally put out an LP – and much like the aforementioned video, the band have once again embraced the ramshackle approach.

Armed with only a handful of microphones, and an ambition to recapture their live sound, they set up shop in frontman John O’Connor’s living-room. That dynamic can be heard all over the resulting record. It’s good stuff, from infectious opener ‘Take Me Home’ through the raucous ‘Lord Don’t Leave Me’, complete with whiskey bottle percussion and handclaps galore, through to the introspective ‘The Barman, The Barfly & Me’.
The undoubted highlight is ‘Leave Your Love At The Door’, an atmospheric ballad that showcases O’Connor’s vocals. A promising debut.