London nu-gazers The History Of Apple Pie have chosen an awkward moment to unleash their debut album. In the month My Bloody Valentine return from a 22-year recording hiatus, it’s difficult to see Out Of View as anything other than a finely wrought piece of indie period pastiche, a Downton Abbey for the fringe-in-their-face set.
Reprised here, 2011 single ‘Malory’ is stacked high with zinging riffs, gossamer vocals from frontwoman Stephanie Min and swathes of feverish tremolo – but it’s an open question whether the five-piece are bringing anything original to a well-worn formula. It’s a pity they don’t try harder to step outside the shadow of their influences – which, in addition to MBV, include shoegaze stalwarts Lush, Ride and Slowdive. Under the layers of bedsit reverb, ‘I Want More’ has a luscious girl-pop shimmer while closer ‘Before You Reached The End’ is a zonked psychedelic freakout, with a cameo from Horrors guitarist Joshua Hayward. Together with contemporaries Yuck and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The History Of Apple Pie represent a curious cul-de-sac in modern rock; these bands ape a historic sound so perfectly, they arguably improve on the original whilst contributing little of any great originality.
For those who enjoy their pop with twee factor set to kill, Out Of View is frequently a thrilling listen. But there’s something of the waxwork exhibit about its appropriation of the past. A gorgeous album that’s sort of dead behind the eyes, anyone?