Reviewed by Tim Holden

'Dreams' is a collection of six pop songs that mark quite a change for East Yorkshire's Backroom Stereo (aka Mark Tiddy). The opening "A Beautiful Love Story" sets the scene with acoustic guitar backed with drums and synths, a theme that is continued throughout the EP with the notable exception of the country styled "Mess It Up". Musically the songs are pleasant enough but with the vocals rarely straying from three or four notes and the accompaniment also lacking in harmonic interest it feels a little bland. Lyrically the songs are, as the title suggests, imagined scenarios and predominately relationships seen through the eyes of a young man - refreshingly, in today's culture, without any sexual references, but also without even a hint of God being involved. Mark's tendency is to not use rhyme but more a series of conversational sentences. 'Dreams' is a pleasant enough listen but simply lacks any standout song or performance.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.