First things first. I Like Pocketbooks. Now we've established that, the one slight downer I probably shouldn't mention, but am about to, is... the guy (Andy) who sings, has a voice which sounds perhaps a little bit 'wet' . Kind of like a seven year old singing skipping songs in the playground. It's fine as a back up to the warm and lovely tones of the other singer (Emma), but as a lead singer, well, it's certainly not terrible, but if Pocketbooks would like to take a step outside the comforts of the tiny indiepop scene and get more listeners (which they really deserve), I'm afraid his voice would put a stop to that, which is something of a shame because when they're good, they're very, very good. And it is after all, Andy who writes the songs. And here on their second album, some of these songs are nothing short of pure pop brilliance. 'Promises Promises' bounces along like a rabbit on a pogo stick, An absolute killer tune that should be sitting in the Top 20 instead of the sad parade of TV show wannabe pop stars clogging up the airwaves with utter dross. The added strings give it an early Belle & Sebastian feel, which lets face it is no bad thing. In fact this is a song that really anyone who's ever bought a Belle & Sebastian record should own. My other personal favourite 'The Beaujolais Lanes' reminds me of a Burt Bacharach style song, which is the highest compliment I can offer. There's not a bad song on the CD. It's an album that will grow on you a little more each time you give it a spin. Even Andy's voice grows on you (honest). The musicianship here is really quite special, without being 'muso' at all. The production is also great, it has a real honest kind of sound. By that I mean it's well recorded and mixed, without sounding over polished like too much music these days does. Really all hail Pocketbooks for this is a rather splendid album. And all hail Odd Box Records for bringing it to us.
Roger C
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