The Wow Signal - Infinity's Lobby

From the off this album is littered with familiar flavours. Healthily enthusiastic opener Purr Right drips with the energetic, blues-meets-punk of early Screaming Trees, while the title track and recent single makes big nods in the direction of Pearl Jam's latter-day adventures, albeit shorn of Vedder's wobbly croon. Infinity's Lobby is permeated by winding tangles of blues guitar weaving over punkier rhythm work that repeatedly summons memories of Seattle just prior to the grunge explosion, especially the aforementioned Mr Lanegan and brothers Conner. Debunked injects a little British indie into the mix that reappears for Lovers Scam. Production throughout is smooth and punchy (as would be expected from the team behind Ash and Elastica), with enough room allowed for the instruments to gain a little individual colour. The result is a perfectly respectable, upbeat rock record that pays homage to a number of apparent influences without ever descending into all-out plagiarism.