Courting - Grand National

On their scrappy debut collection, Liverpool’s Courting are heavy-handed with their influences but endearing enough to get away with it. On the energetic title track, frontman Sean Murphy-O’Neill is a pint-sized Alex Rice, a cavalier jabberer whose tone is an inch the right side of irritating as he rips into horse racing culture and Brexit Britain over an instrumental that should tick a few boxes for any Sports Team fan. ‘Crass’, with a wiry, knock-off Black Country, New Road sort of sound, is a less fitting look on the foursome, especially compared to ‘Popshop!’, the EP’s jaunty bite-size lynchpin which is an absolute barrel of fun. Complete with an Ed Sheeran dig and a shot of cynicism for good measure - “fame buys you money and money buys you fame,” sings Sean - it highlights Courting’s sense of humour that could give them an edge as a one-to-watch, if they can keep it up in future.