In amidst dissing most of the newer punk/rock bands around today I remember Gubby from Cargo Music raving on about this bunch, saying how much they stand out from the pack as musicians & songwriters. And I’ve gotta say I haven’t heard anything quite like them.

Each song is an emotional yearning or reminiscence with song titles like ‘Why Couldn’t We Have Met In The Summer?’ and ‘My Life In Motion’. Fiddley, twiddley dual guitars dance around a supportive bass line while powerfully delivered vocals speak melancholic words of what could & should have been.

In fact, on first listening it could be the vocals that put you off but I think it’s this uniqueness that I like about Rydell. When he does muster the energy to sing it does sort of verge on the out-of-tune but ‘Gilsenan’ sees this husky vocal style mix strangely well with those twiddley emo guitars.

If you’re looking for something with power & drive but also relaxingly different to chill out to then I’d check these guys out. As well as label mates The Firebird Band.