This Many Boyfriends - Starling

Leeds-based quartet This Many Boyfriends make their return following the tragic death of guitarist Peter Sykes from a sudden brain haemorrhage last year with ‘Starling’, a bouncy piece of guitar pop positively bursting with melody and exuberance.

This Many Boyfriends are redolent of indie groups of days gone by, the sort of groups who regularly featured on ITV’s Indie Chart and it gives them an engaging charm. There are no pretensions whatsoever, just supremely well constructed indie pop.

‘Starling’ is a Smiths-ian jangle about two lovers entwined by their shared ideals. “We will live together for a long time,’ singer Richard Boyfriend espouses in his dry croon. B-side ‘Just Saying’ is a rousing piece, full of ‘Ba, Ba, Ba”s and a careering melody which gives the track an invigorating pulse.

There is nothing particularly progressive or innovative to This Many Boyfriends’ take on a well-worn style, but there remains a joy to be heard from witty and energising indie pop, a sound that This Many Boyfriends have perfected.