Keith – Vice & Virtue

, an interesting name for a band, you might not be sure exactly what to make of it. It is about as anonymous as a moniker can be. Six years since starting out the band release their sophomore effort ‘Vice and Virtue’ which, not dissimilar to their name, is neither here nor there.

Lead single ‘Lullaby’ is a decent effort awash, as with most of the albums high points, with an almost psychedelic blanket of jangly guitar and piano parts, and an amalgamation of vocal effects, electronic ditties and a rather jazzy hi-hat friendly take on drumming. And opener ‘Can’t See the Faces’ is a solid attempt, but nothing more, at some catchy indie-electro.

‘You Don’t Know’ is a half cut MGMT covering a Kooks album track, make of it what you will, but it wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack of this Summer’s big teen movie.

‘Up in the Clouds’, whilst needlessly complex for something so throwaway, offers up the most satisfying moment of the album. An incessant bassy groove breaking down into a drum beat clearly sampled from ‘Ibiza Chillout 2001’ and then the refrain of “Hey, come over to the clouds” leading the march into a finish Ocean Colour Scene would have been proud of. Yes, we did just say that. Greater than the sum of its parts it certainly is.

The title track and closer is taken over by a psychedelic feel that unfortunately can’t make it’s mind up between the Byrds and Kula Shaker, which is an probably an accurate summary of the album. This album is far too experimental to make a good pop album, and far too pop to make anything too unconventional, ultimately getting lost along the way.