Reviewed by Greg Sammons

A year or so ago musical comedian Mitch Benn wrote a song called "Everything Sounds Like Coldplay Now", citing the fact that bands such as Keane, Embrace and their ilk sound so alike. I couldn't help thinking of that song when listening to this album. But the thing is The Race do it so well, with their tinkly pianos and emo-pop vocals. And this is not just some random indie band; no, they're on Shifty Disco - one of the best respected independent labels. "Find Out" starts things off, complete with a climactic chorus and impressively chaotic instrumentalisation, setting the bar for the rest of the album. Their lead single "When It Falls" plays on the juxtaposition of the gentle glockenspiel with the driving lead guitar and is guided along by the impassioned vocals of Dan Buchanan whilst the backing vocals of Jess del Rio (sister of guitarist James) adds a welcome extra layer and dimension to a number of the songs. One of my favourites, "Amersham Road", is almost right at the end of the album, perhaps due to it being brought out as a single well in advance of the album. The songs are not blindingly original but certainly have some nice moments, captured expertly by producer Ian Davenport. Overall, this album by another band of believers out there in the mainstream is rich in texture, taking the best bits of their influences and turning them into something pretty fresh and very easy on the ear.

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.

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