To The City From The Sea

Album review
By Chris Long
Producer, BBC Manchester Introducing

The story goes that Akoustik Anarkhy happened across Beat The Radar at a rehearsal room and liked what they heard so much, they just had to sign them.

The band's debut album proves they were right to act so impulsively, as To The City From The Sea is a sturdy ship of songs that should see them sail to much wider success.

Named after the band's move from the wilds of Lancashire to the urban sprawl of Manchester, it is an album pinned down by their resolute indie, pop sensibilities and catchy choruses that never veer into the twee or toned-down.

Most importantly, sensitive production has meant that little of the raw energy of the band's live performances has been lost in the recording process.

Telephone Conversation still bristles and bounds, Misunderstood What You Said remains singalong and confidently strident, and Stars stays as exuberant as a breathless puppy.

Not that everything is so bubbly. Elsewhere, the band prove they can effectively shift down the gears with the mournful Passenger and shine in full epic glory on This City Is My Friend's explosive centrepoint.

The album does have limitations, not least of which is Johnny Swift's voice, which is occasionally out of its depth - but somehow, like the vocals of The Wedding Present's David Gedge, they still manage to work within the drama and emotion of the band's songs.

All in, To The City From The Sea is as fine a slice of good old-fashioned indie as you'll hear, and in a scene packed with angular synths and 80s influences, that makes a refreshing change.

To The City From The Sea is out now on Akoustik Anarkhy.