Tuff Love – Dross EP

This second EP from the Glasgow duo of Julie Eisenstein and Suse Bear (the follow-up to 2014's Junk) refines their minimal palette. It's still them but the thrift store playfulness of their debut benefits from development as both songwriters and musicians. You'll fall for the tunes for sure, but take note of the presentation this time around. Soft harmonies, a lilting dream pop cadence and genuinely characterful guitar (a touch of Cobain throughout, particularly on the clean picking of Slammer) give the Dross EP depth and substance that belie its humble origins.

The only thing that balks is this excellent collection's needlessly self-deprecating title. That whole 'we're a bit shit, really' philosophy is a lo-fi staple well past its sell-by date and undermines Tuff Love's aspiration. On the mounting evidence to date, they're a hell of a prospect. An album can’t come soon enough.