For their second album, this Portland quartet have taken perhaps too much heed of the lazy critical descriptions that met their 2007 debut, like “ramshackle charm” (thanks, Observer Music Monthly).

The result is an album that largely eschews the melody of their first record… though sporadic it was, even there. What they are emphasising here, it seems, is rhythm. Each of these songs is driven by the energetic tempo forced by bass player Mayhaw Hoons and drummer Nathan Delffs, with the latter’s brother Nicholas providing equally percussive vocals.

That works very well, but the trouble is that as songwriters the band are far from premier league. So they rely on conviction and volume, things best experienced by seeing them live. At best, we could describe them as paying tribute to MC5 and The Who during their more ragged moments, but those comparisons oversell them, sadly.

That said, the likes of ‘Love All Of’ and ‘Wake The Breathing Light’ suggest there is something stirring here.

Barnaby Smith