Cortez - Too Orangey For Crows

Norwich 'darlings' Cortez are nobodies, as far as it can be said that virtually nobody took any notice of their debut album, 'Conquistadors', released a year ago. 'Too Orangey For Crows' deserves better than that. With obvious hints of Tindersticks and Calexico, and a vocalist who veers between Nick Cave and a low-fat Stuart Staples, this second album shows plenty of ideas within such a framework, and a couple of surprises too. Strangers In Town's apocalyptic chorus is a revelation, The Nihilist and Doom Trip are sinister and sombre, before the latter explodes in crashing riffage, and Cannibalist Manifesto has chanted Fall-like verses with a Britpop chorus. O Alcohol, a drunken piano-side singalong in praise of booze, adds to the dusty Texan bar-room vibe. Though perhaps not earth-shifting, 'Too Orangey For Crows' is too good for anonymity. [Ally Brown]