British guitar bands have been left to play a barely audible second fiddle to the (ahem) new wave of US talent in recent years. Even a select few from down under have received more column inches than those languishing in Blighty. There have been some exceptions: The Libertines' trials and tribulations, The Darkness' cartoon metal and The Coral's ever-productive mystical magic. But, for the most part, the hyperbole has been restricted to those across the pond.
Even seasoned campaigners such as the Super Furries seem to have passed by without so much as an unfortunate, indifferent shrug, despite working miracles yet again. And it's highly likely that the pair of moody twenty-nothing siblings from Sussex comprising the Electric Soft Parade will suffer the same fate at the end of a year crammed full of notable releases. A shame considering 'American Adventure' has clearly been lovingly constructed and largely well executed.
If their debut, 'Holes In The Wall', sounded like two talented teenagers with great record collections performing a dress rehearsal, the somewhat ironically titled follow-up is quite a step forward. Apparently named after a theme park and a mere nine tracks in length, there's a strong sense of focus and quality control in operation.
Despite an overall mood of gloom, it swaggers into life with the cocksure bluster of 'Things I've Done Before'. Big, bluesy guitars riff and slide before a sudden yet strangely appropriate gear change introduces light piano lead breaks. Add to that a lyrical maturity that belies their years and a canny knack for a tune, and it's quite an opener.
The delectable 'Bruxellisation' follows with the kind of melodic, melancholic jangle that must have had James Skelly kicking himself for not nicking it and loading it in his quick-fire creative cannon sooner. Sweet, simple and soaked in heartache, it's the highlight of this record.
Title track, 'American Adventure', kicks-off with the sound of a bong in operation and although they're smoking herbs of a slightly different ilk to the aforementioned Scouse and Welsh pop luminaries, their poison is clearly having the desired effect. A sprawling, shape-shifting epic, it features the bitterest of sentiments, closing with the lines, "I'll give you seven reasons why you need to get a grip. But it's too late for that."
Finishing off with the luscious, lazy lament of 'Chaos', the barbed, urgent 'Headacheville' and lyrically morose ("Existing is easy, living is hard") yet sweet-sounding, harmonic 'Existing', the 'American Adventure' is a roller coaster ride well worth taking. Unfortunately for the Electric Soft Parade, a lack of charisma and affection for British guitar pop may see their carriage lacking the necessary momentum.
