downdime - Knowing Too Much

Some people like Scouting for Girls, and if they had any sense they would like downdime. OK, maybe that’s not the best place to start, but it might give you an idea of the sort of pop gem that can be found amongst the eight tracks of the debut album ‘Knowing Too Much’. They are essentially a garage-pop band with leanings towards early 90s indie such as Pavement, with lo-fi sounds fully intact. Title track and album opener ‘Knowing Too Much’ over does the pop to a certain extent, but ‘Lessons’ and ‘Joanne’ are two of the most endearing guitar songs issued in a long, long while before ‘Time Runs Too Slow’ shows there are more strings to the downdime bow, literally, as the strings kick in to dampen the mood. Proof that this is just the band showing off comes in the shape of normal service being immediately resumed in the shape of ‘Any Good Reason’ and ‘Slave To Circumstance’, nobody ever knew that four guys from Leeds could do this good an impression of REM, and pull it off without ripping them off. Recorded at Brudenell Social Club, recent Cribs’ efforts echo through ‘Shine’ but for the all the likenesses downdime produce something original. From start to finish this album should be played loud from a car stereo and covers enough bases to provide the soundtrack to your Spring with its pop duellings yet never loses sight of its credibility factor.