Album title:
Show Me How The Spectres Dance
Artist:
Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family
Label:
LaVolta
Show Me How the Spectres Move' from Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family could well be one of the essential debuts of the year. Melodic, without being sugary; melancholic but not dreary and dexterously layered without ever becoming complicated. It's a restless, uncompromising effort that shows they are unwilling to be pigeonholed with the 'Northern Soul' slogan. Polyphonic Spree tinged opener, The City is at a Standstill ushers in the immediately catchy nature of the sound - The Mourners of St Paul's and Shall We Dance will stay in your head for days - whilst not betraying the substance on offer. From there in, Frost's retrogressive yet mature writing is occasionally reminiscent of Ryan Adam-esque 'garage folk' (Road Signs With Red Lights); although his inescapable Lancashire articulation and willingness to up the pace presents a unique incarnation of the genre. This is the soundtrack to a troubled time in Frost's life, with a guitar for company. And it sounds disturbingly good. [Finbarr Bermingham]