Arty indie grunge from Land of Talk's second album
For a song that charts singer Lizzie Powell’s parents’ relationship while her mother battled cancer, it’s remarkably catchy. Drawing their inspiration from grunge rock icons like Sonic Youth, they recreate that solid fuzzy guitar sound perfectly. Powell’s sweet high vocals are a revelation that makes their sound stand out from a million and one other indie/grunge bands. The DIY ethic is all too clear, the hand-drawn style CD cover, repetitive chord sequences... Yes, it lends a kind of arty authenticity to their work, but it’s something you can hear anywhere else.
The B-side is an acoustic version of 'Summer Special', and it’s when you listen to this that you understand that Land of Talk may use the same formula for their songs, but their lyrics are outstanding and original. If you like low-key indie songwriting and grungy guitars, it’s more likely you’ll be buying the album anyway.