Promise
One thing that Liverpool’s music scene has never been in short supply of is confidence. Never mind the obvious 60s influences; from The La’s to The Rascals a swagger has often accompanied that distinctive twang in song. So discovering that a band called The Maybes? hail from Merseyside is like finding an insecure Frenchman loafing around the Champs-Élysées. Ever more peculiar considering opening track 'Turn Me Over' with its soaring vocals and sparkling guitar lines hardly sounds lacking in aplomb. 'Boys' almost overwhelms with its multitude of guitar rhythms fighting amongst themselves in the background. Little wonder then that the track has been used on certain sports shows as an instrumental.
At times the vocals seem to be trying too hard to impress, creating a whine when less effort would be far more rewarding on the ears. You wonder whether it may be best if the band just relax, let things flow. 'Modern Love' sees The Maybes? cut themselves some slack and offer a soulful façade to their jingle jangle pop, complete with do-wops. From such an assured start they suddenly sound sorry for themselves; 'Trick Of The Light' introducing doleful into their ever increasing repertoire. Thankfully the down-tempos do not linger around for long, 'The Come Around' sees a welcome return to those energetic beats and rapidfire vocals. Alas, 'Ronnie Loves Julie' sounds as saccharine sweet as the chav friendly title would indicate, whilst atmospheric guitar meanders around rollicking lyrical splendour.
'Summertime' is the lead single and with its euphoric harmonies you simply cannot fault it for enthusiasm alone. When you finally think they have shown enough variation they go along and spoil it, maybe they missed the demise of their neighbours The Dead 60s but 'Full Moon' unearths that oft despised genre once again, ska. Yet another Scouse influence arrives in 'Disappear', with its lazy, almost psychedelic acoustic guitar you could be forgiven for thinking The Coral. Close your eyes and the stirring vocals even sound like James Skelly. Yet when they try to mimic their influences, to their credit it ever so nearly comes off. 'Talk About You' has clever refrains, effortlessly delivered, that seem to unearth an extra quality to previous tracks and leave you wondering what you might have missed.
Their musicianship has been unchallenged so far, admirable in places until you hear closing track Promise and their talent finally becomes clear. Whilst many tracks have featured laudable riffs or assured beats, Promise seems to grasp them all together for a 12 minute long dance. Labelling The Maybes? as bright indiepop upstarts suddenly sounds out of place, as if their hopes and dreams have matured in a shimmering odyssey of building ambiance, funky basslines, and just before you think it’s running out of breath, calypso drums.
For such a precarious name you could imagine the band having doubts about themselves. Forget them, with such a wickedly talented showcase of songs at hand there is nothing to be worried about here folks.