Last year The Kings Of Leon released a record that, lyrically, was less a collection of indie rock songs than a tooth-and-claw account of wanton pillage. Lock up your daughters? Well, judging by ‘Pistol Of Fire’, when the priapic Followill (and how apt and Shakespearian a name is that?) crew are in town, best hide your sons, grandparents and pets away too. Admirable? Certainly not. Hygienic? No way. Great? Christ, yes.
Cherry Falls, however, are a very different proposition. They want us to know that they’re driven by an altogether less bestial organ. Going by the hushed, reverent hymns to remote female beauty contained on ‘Winter/Winter’, they’re the type who spend all night casting moody glances at a girl, before crumbling in horror as a B-Oed, hair-ball Caleb-type whisks her, with a demonic cackle, off into the darkness.
The debut LP from Cherry Falls is a prime example of the brand of emotionally balanced, nice-guy rock that is currently smeared across the schedule of E4. And, as such, encourages as much joyfulness as a party political broadcast by the DUP.
“I’d like to treat you better…I like you and what you have to say” they sing on the implausibly titled ‘My Drug’ – a patently insincere song that, judging by the level of enthusiasm on display, is obviously inspired by Night Nurse - and although every note and mannered vocal whisper is impeccably positioned, the overall effect is entirely underwhelming.
The Kings Of Leon may well get run out of town; Cherry Falls should never be allowed in.