Reviewed by Chris Berry

A four-track EP cassette from West Riding's Ryburn Valley based six piece, formerly Some Say It Thundered. And it's an impressive debut. Obviously they've decided to keep it down to quality over quantity on the recorded side at the moment, and it pays off for them here. Whilst they record their influences as Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and REM, the overriding impression to me was of early Aztec Camera. Particularly Phil Whitehead's lead vocals on "Here I Stand". Phil and Jean Sands share the lead vocal department in the band and although their voices would obviously benefit from greater (and more expensive) production, they do nonetheless fit in well. As a taster of greater things to come this is an unqualified success, with two of the tracks, the aforementioned "Here I Stand" and the opener "Help Me To Believe" being well worthy of further inclusion on a full album. The tracks showcase a guitar-oriented sound which appears to be coming back into vogue, no need for another name change I shouldn't have thought, but if there is could I suggest Clear Spells With Bright Patches.

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