Picturehouse: Evolution

It’s easy to forget just how popular Picturehouse were in the mid to late ‘90s. A knack for harmony- laden melodies, combined with a considerable live prowess struck a chord. They came tantalisingly close to breaking big. Now, their first album in 13 years finds them re-configured: frontman Dave Browne is the only original member. Still, most of the elements that made them such an attractive proposition are present and correct and there is at least a handful of songs on a par with earlier triumphs.
With harmonies aplenty and an irresistible melody, the luscious sunshine power-pop of ‘Having It
My Way’ is an immediate highlight. Despite an incongruous and unnecessary techno intro, recent single ‘Some Night She Will Be Mine’ is another radio contender. With a melody not a million miles away from Nik Kershaw’s ‘80s hit ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ it recalls some of the band’s best-known creations, including ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Somebody Somewhere’.
Elsewhere ‘Every Step Of The Way’, a McCarntey- esqe ballad’, showcases their mellower side while ‘Papers In The Park’ is more jazzy. ‘Snow
In Summer’ features a duet with Ingrid Madsen, while the final track, ‘Our Inner Voices’, features De Dannan’s Frankie Gavin on pipes and whistles. Welcome back...

Key Track: 'Having It My Way'