Givers of good quote and purveyors of spritely indie-rock marked out by a charismatic frontman with a distinctive yelp, Frankie And The Heartstrings deliver a debut worthy of everybody’s attention. Favouring shamelessly blokey call-and-response hooks and not averse to “woos” and “woah-woah-woahs”, these tales of love chased, lost and briefly enjoyed are delivered with an infectious enthusiasm and blessed with production by Edwyn Collins. ‘Fragile’, the album’s most cerebral moment, is a sprawling, emotive beast which gradually splinters into a raucous finale befitting of the lyric “If you’re going to break down then just break down.” Repeated plays lie ahead.
8/10
Words by Gareth James