Pocketbooks - Carousel

London’s Pocketbooks’ second album is everything you’d expect from a band that are involved in the organization of the excellent Indietracks festival –i.e. indie-pop of the highest order. Lead vocal duties are shared throughout by the band’s songwriter Andy Hudson and keyboard player Emma Hall, with Andy’s vocal delivery on opening track 'Fireworks at Midnight' very reminiscent of Spearmint’s Shirley Lee. 'Promises, Promises', however, could sit comfortably on the forthcoming second album by Allo Darlin’, with Emma’s vocal style being close to that of Elizabeth Morris. The album as a whole is laced with fine orchestration ranging from the strings on the aforementioned 'Promises, Promises' to the lovely piano led 'The Sky at Night' and 'Harbour Lights'. Other uptempo highlights include 'Sound of the Carnival' with Emma again on lead vocals and 'Five Day Forecast', while slower songs 'Sparklers'and 'Gaumont State Cinema' are also worthy of ear time. 'The Flowers are Still Standing' is 'Fireworks at Midnight' from a female perspective and shows the band have put a fair amount of thought into the album as a whole rather than just throwing a bunch of songs together. Definitely recommended, 'Carousel' could be elevated to ‘bloody essential’ if in their capacity as Indietracks organizers the band could persuade Davey Woodward to reform the Brilliant Corners to headline next summer’s event!

Track Listing:-

1 Fireworks At Midnight
2 Promises, Promises
3 The Sky At Night
4 Sound of the Carnival
5 Sparklers
6 Gaumont State Cinema
7 Harbour Lights
8 The Flowers Are Still Standing
9 The Beaujolais Lanes
10 Five Day Forecast
11 The End of the Pier

Band Links:-

http://www.pocketbooks.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/Pocketbooks-6
https://twitter.com/pocketbooks
http://pocketbooks.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/andypocke
http://www.songkick.com/artists/627376