Iain Cook and Martin Doherty were veterans of Glasgow’s murky indie scene when, early last year, they had the brainwave of recruiting a pouting female vocalist ten years their junior in the shape of former music journalist Lauren Mayberry. Thus was born Chvrches, celebrants of bruised electro rock, who had a big YouTube hit with the track ‘Lies’ and placed fifth on 2013 BBC Sound Of... poll. Given all the early buzz, it’s been quite a wait for their actual album and it’s not always clear if Chvrches have put the time to the best use. For every transcendent electro rock-out on show – such as ‘We Sink’ and ‘Gun’ – there is, it seems, an equivalent quantity of what feels on initial contact at least like filler (‘The Mother We Share’ takes an age to reach the chorus and you wonder if it was worth the trouble).
Last aboard, Mayberry turns out to be the trio’s ace. She sings in her native Scottish accent, imbuing what might otherwise feel like clichéd lyrics with genuine brio and sass. But the songs aren’t always the equal of her fervour and you can’t help suspect that, perhaps caught unawares by the success of ‘Lies’, Chvrches had to scramble a little to put together an album’s worth of material. It’s a pity because, at their best, they’re truly transcendent.

Key Track : 'Lies'