Album Review: Junk Drawer, Days Of Heaven

Inspired by eroded histories, open minds and closed communities, Nordie indie heroes Junk Drawer poke at the underbelly of mainstream and alternative Ulster life, while wrestling with its strangeness, on the follow-up to their award-winning 2020 debut, Ready For The House.

Recorded in Co. Wicklow, the four-piece’s second full length is a tale of two halves, and an absorbing offering full of confidence and creativity. Side A treats us to some lovingly crafted, hypnotic jangle-pop, with the likes ‘Brown Sunshine’ and ‘The Prisoner’ proving criminally good.

Side B revels in oddness and throws ominous cult-like chants, church organs, and lyrics about snooker legend Dennis Taylor into the pot, as they flex their musical muscles. A particular highlight is ‘Loughall Circus’, a twisted lullaby driven by Chris Isaak-style guitars.

Weird, wonderful and pleasingly peculiar, Junk Drawer have hit god mode on Days Of Heaven.

8/10