The Dawn Chorus - The Carnival Leaves Town

Concept albums, loathe 'em or loathe 'em, will always be a part of the rock world's furniture. As long as there are egos around and drugs to be taken bands will be drawn into conversations beginning with the gambit “what if...?”. Most ideas will be laughed off, forgotten or discarded but every so often a beauty gets through.

For Hampshire seven-piece The Dawn Chorus, it's the carnival that acts as a central thread. Sadly bearded ladies don't rate a mention while there's not even a hint of inter-species offspring. Instead The Carnival Leaves Town revolves round Kyle Evans' self-indulgent lyrics, whiny vocals and an overall Bumface & Sons vibe that only repeated showering and a belt of whiskey will eradicate.

Soulless throughout and in the case of the aptly named Green Unpleasant Land, destined to be used in a Centre Parcs advert, when the carnival does eventually leave town after 50 minutes it's a blessed relief. [Andy Kerr]