Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Been living with this album for days and fluctuated in my feelings about what they've achieved. They may have taken their name from a surfer buzzword but this ain't no Beach Boys album. Instead, a melodic modern rock style reveals some nifty crisp guitar sounds, raspy vocals and a smattering of memorable songs and there's the problem. So much of this still washes over me and despite the fact I've played it about 15 times, it's still barely getting my attention. "Chem 6A" has a killer dirty scratchy guitar riff and "Might Have Ben Hur" (humorously dedicated to Charlton Heston!) explodes, is short, snappy and fun. The same can be said for "Ode To Chin" which contains the brilliant advice "Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs!" Sonically this sounds like a great album - all the right ingredients are in place, but like a good Yorkshire pudding, even the finest ingredients won't be enough if it doesn't completely rise! There are moments when this one is more pancake than pudding. However, overall worth checking out. Maybe the live stage is the best place to hear these songs.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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