Friends in America's debut album What It Is To Be is a real treat offering a glimpse of a band with genuine potential. This is very clever song-writing with strong meaningful lyrics sung over music that is at times post-punk, at others almost ambient, and at others Johnny Marr like in the best way possible.
Opener What It Is To Be brings to mind Radiohead or Sigur Ros with the song being a classic example of that ambient feel I mentioned above. Gaffe follows and could easily be a Smiths track long lost from the Strangeways Here We Come sessions - it's wonderful.
Track three You're carries on the theme leading us to the album's highlight, the magnificent Quietly Quietly. Here we have Byrds-esque vocals colliding with post-punk guitars whilst once again channelling Johnny Marr at his angular best. It also brings to mind The Sundays at their Reading Writing & Arithmetic peak having that sort of melodic indie feel. I really can't recommend this track highly enough.
I really am in love with this album. It grows on you from the first listen and once you start playing it you'll find it really hard to stop. A first class debut.
- David McElroy
Friends In America - What It Is To Be is out now. CD available from independent record shops, and online. Download the album here.
