When you first hear Sura Laynes, you'd maybe mistake them as not coming from Derby, but Liverpool. There are big hints of Scouse Pop in the vein of The La's or Cast. There are also shades of the Wirral with similarities to The Coral.
You know from hearing the short opener, Comrade In Arms, that you are in for something special with its harmonium background and unplugged vocal harmonies. There is great variety across the dozen songs. Yet, whatever path they take, the Pop sensibilities are never lost.
This lot can certainly offer up a chorus no matter what the genre. Take for instance Feel Alright which is a sort of jaunty let's do the song right here affair, but adds harmonica and a sort of R and B Guitar feel. And what a fantastic mix of styles they come up with.
The Scally Guitar Pop of Let The Good Times Roll, the 60s storytelling of Smalltown Love Song and The best Coral song that The Coral didn't write Promise You'll Stay which is set to a Rock and Roll-ish riff and a Power Pop Drum Beat.
The songwriting also reveals a real lyrical wit on the likes of The Captain Ain't Qualified and the aforementioned Feel Alright. Blade In My Back is very 60s UK Beat, indeed there is a 60s feel throughout as well as a link to the Sea.
What is so encouraging, is that a debut album can sound so accomplished. Unusual and adept arrangements add to each song, but the melody is never forgotten. It restores your faith in music. Spotify hasn't totally killed creativity, you just have to look further than the playlist hell.
You can listen to and buy the album here.
...........................
No comments:
Post a Comment