Cherbourg – Last Chapter Of Dreaming EP

This four track EP is a charmingly listenable piece of work from a London four piece who dabble in an infectious mix of folk rock that isn’t a million miles away from those fiddle playing miserablists Beirut. ‘Never Love Again’ is a fabulously catchy lead track that dishes out in equal amounts deadpan vocals with rich violins. ‘Horses’ is an altogether darker affair, the group harmonies sit dangerously close to being something cheesy, but the band pull it off with such panache, such decisions are easily forgiven. Laura Marling’s single ‘Night Demons’ is the only thing recently that comes close to this track, which is turned upon its head in ‘Let You Down’ – a heartfelt and sombre tale of love and loss. Nothing too new here, but if anything, it’s clear the passion and creativity that runs through the band, and, with a second EP making its way very soon, a more than welcome addition to the ever expanding waistline of the ‘cool folk’ genre. Fourth and final track ‘The Mill’ is Simon and Garfunkle put through a washing machine set on ‘fun’. A grower in every aspect, the song swings between its well thought out vocals and something that is pleasingly eighties. Exciting and rousing, this is an excellent debut for a band rich on ideas and a joyous reminder of why we love music in the first place.