Wigan’s indie finest unleash a cracking new album.

I will freely admit to not giving the Lathums enough credit, unfairly ignoring their first two albums until recently. It seems bizarre to think they were initially put together by an Arts College tutor but gelled so well they had signed to a major studio within less than one year. They are a double-edged threat with a stunning ear for an uplifting or soulful guitar tune, but equally have a great supply of interesting and thoughtful lyrics. In some respects, they resemble the bastard offspring of The Coral and The Smiths, however they are always uniquely true to themselves.

What the Lathums really do well is singles. All four tracks they have released prior to the album are massive tunes, brilliantly well-crafted tracks that would have been huge chart botherers had they been released in the 90s. ‘No Direction’ has garnered the most attention and whilst I can respect it, it didn’t grab me the same way that ‘Stellar Cast’ did. ‘Stellar Cast’ is perhaps the most Coral-esque track on display here with its catchy hook and cleverly constructed quirky backing. Alex Moore’s vocal performance is commanding, as on many tracks on this album. He has a strong range and properly hits notes in a way many of his indie-peers could not dream of managing. The brilliance continues on the next track ‘Heartbreaker.’ It is hugely catchy, and continues to build, bringing in a full array of guitar solo, vocal harmonies and happy clapping. It will probably stand as one of the best tunes of year when the time comes to reflect.

Of the unreleased material I hugely enjoyed ‘Dynamite.’ The album saves one of its best until last with ‘Long Shadows.’ Moore hits into falsetto range, one of the many elements that instantly grab your attention. From the slow burn start it builds and builds into an epic conclusion and then disappears before it has any chance of outstaying its welcome. I am hugely annoyed there is no sign of them on the Reading Festival confirmed bands yet as I had really expected them to feature in some way.

This is a very fine indie album that will not disappoint if you decide to give it a spin.