If the name of the band doesn’t ring a bell right away, at least one song on this very impressive debut will be familiar to most. The evocative, summery strains of ‘Long May You Reign’ was featured on the Northern Ireland Tourist Board ad, as seen widely on TV and in cinemas in recent months. A blend of Nick Drake style pastoral folk and soaring, widescreen Celtic rock, it’s a strong calling card for the band and this album more than delivers on that initial promise.
The Belfast four-piece have been likened to everyone from Snow Patrol and Elliot Smith to The Lemonheads – and they certainly share the passion of the aforementioned. But there’s something unique about songs such as the smouldering ‘Tiger Tales’ and the Springsteenesque ‘Blinded + Cross’ that marks them out as originals.
New single, ‘Killer’ ups the ante in the rock department and is another strong contender for heavy airplay, while they showcase a softer side on the slow-burning but memorable ballad ‘Frost’. With a heavenly piano arrangement and distorted electronics backdroping a lovely melody, ‘Marley Street’ is almost ethereal, while ‘Heavyweight’ the album’s final salvo sounds like The Byrds-meets-Nirvana.
Mark my words: they should be huge.