Lucky Elephant - Star Sign Trampoline

Question: Is naming a song after the band you’re in an egotistical proclamation of your own self-worth or just a bit of harmless fun? Belle & Sebastian did just that and they surely can’t be accused of being self-indulgent or egotistical, can they?

Anyway, Lucky Elephant have copied and pasted the same scenario, with the first track on their debut album ‘Star Sign Trampoline’ named, you guessed it, ‘Lucky Elephant’. This lilting instrumental sets the scene for what is to come, with its gentle organ melody, underlaid with whistles and xylophones. Perfect for a summer’s day, sat under a tree sipping Pimms and reading a novel.

‘Red Ties Vs The Bees’ is equally as summery, with lead singer Manu carrying us along with his slightly-distressed-but-still-achingly-beautiful voice. The rest of the album carries on much the same. ‘The Beginning’ strikes upon issues of urban living, while ‘The Pier’ talks poignantly about Manu’s upbringing, on the French seaside. Album highlights are the jaunty ‘Reverend Tilsley & His Magic Lantern’ and the pirate-esque ‘Edgar’, which bobs along like a merry kid who can’t stop smiling.

Whilst being undeniably pleasant on the ear, there’s just something a bit too innocent about this album. Each song could easily have been plucked from a CBBC soundtrack, which makes us take the album a little less seriously. But that doesn’t stop it being a nice listen. Life-affirming it isn’t, but why should everything be?