Lukestar - Lake Toba

With this, their second album, Norwegian outfit Lukestar are apparently well honed in the art of writing a melodic pop-punk tune. Yes, you do get the appropriate breaks, well-used rhythms and fills and fairly standard structures, meaning you know where you are most of the time, but this is all coupled with an energy and skill which is equally difficult to shun. Having already received notable success with this album's release in their homeland last year, comparisons to the less conventional sounds produced by Mew have since been drawn in reference to the delicate layering and varied instrumentation found from opener and single White Shade onwards. This is perhaps too polished to be considered quite so experimental, although the fragile and ethereal vocal lines - not unfamiliar to those who've heard Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser - are truly what save Lake Toba from relative mediocrity. Those who are missing Glasgow’s own Bad Dancer should definitely give this troupe a try. [Emma Smith]