This debut full-length was released in England in August of 1999, and Athens, Ga.'s Kindercore Records has kindly issued it stateside. Expect soft vocals, gentle brass, and sweet '60s pop melodies from the core duo of Deborah Wykes (vocals, bass, piano, organs, mellotron, harmonica, glockenspiel) and guitarist Paul Kelly, two former touring members of Saint Etienne. Songs like "Let Her Go" are practically letter-perfect in their jangly acoustic strum, tasteful trumpet, round, simple organ tones and Wykes' knowing, honeyed vocals. "One Two Five," a great walking song, gets a funky jumpstart from echoey vocals and a wah-wah pedal. With strains of The Carpenters, The Hollies, Love and Burt Bacharach, this is a must for fans of Belle & Sebastian and, of course, Saint Etienne — sweet simplicity epitomized. www.kindercore.com
—Stefanie Kalem
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2000.