I’ve written about Merchandise – the Bolton duo of Brad B Wood and Conrad Astley - before (#8) when I reviewed their ‘Swallowing Curses’ single. I liked it, but I mentioned that it took a while for me to get into and also mentioned ‘Drum and Bass’(!). I think I must have been having a strange day when I reviewed that, as this, their album, is truly a thing of beauty.

The title hints at their sound: gorgeous lo-fi pop acoustics melded perfectly with the hi-tech sounds from the gentler side of electronica (think Boards of Canada or something from the Morr Music label rather than Venetian Snares or Squarepusher).

On first listen, while working on my laptop on a Saturday afternoon, the sounds and the feel of the album as a whole got me, passing through and calming me. Afterwards I was able to appreciate the lyrics and the more intricate nature of the music, to see just how many genres and different beats and moods (pretentious I know, but that is the best way to describe it – uplifting, melancholy, comforting…) were in these twelve songs. I kept thinking of Hood, or a more consistent Stereolab.

DIY indie pop, back from when indie meant something, mixed with the best of the modern day electronica scene. Worth it for the great ‘Beautiful morning for a bad day’ alone, but every other song here can match that. A gem.