LIQUORICE RIVER

Norf Landan's equivalent of Franz Ferdinand (that's a compliment) return with swing-your-pants indie-disco on Russell, an expansive four and a half minutes that incorporates a tragic tale with a neat guitar riff and solo, (a SOLO, yes really they still exist) that recalls '80s paisley-rockers The Church and loads of hi-hat action. It's the band's best moments for sure, maybe a bit long for 'radio' but well worth replaying, as is the closing dubby Eternally Nocturnal, a paean to insomnia that also features another nifty Alex Avery guitar-riff Ross Liddle's lungs trying to vault out of his chest. The other tracks are knockabout garage-rock that haven't quite got 'hit' written all over them but are nonetheless a step up from anything on the preceding Pulse EP.

This review also appeared on Flipside Reviews

Paul PLEDGER
29/01/2015