Frankie & The Heartstrings - Everybody Looks Better (In The Right Light)

Frankie & The Heartstrings are something of a throwback to an earlier, simpler time. A time when indie guitar pop dominated and the fabled indie chart on ITV’s Saturday morning show represented something of a pinnacle for a guitar group. In keeping with their rather more old-fashioned style, Frankie and co. are resurrecting that age-old perennial of the stand-alone between albums single.

‘Everybody Looks Better (In The Right Light)’ is the first new material from the Sunderland group since February’s debut album ‘Hunger’, and it is very much a case of business as usual. The track is a typically fuzzy, exuberant and brightly melodic sing-a-long dominated by a chugging guitar line. Producer, ex-Suede guitarist, Bernard Butler adds a glossy shiny pop shine and its insidious hooks are pleasantly charming.

Despite the energetic and sprightly feel of the track, there is a nagging feeling, however, that there is something missing and as a single, it is rather lightweight. As a bridge between albums, it is certainly acceptable but you would hope that the bands second album has some more of a degree of development in terms of sound and style or it is in danger of lapsing into pastiche.