The Bronze
Album: The Bronze
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.thebronze.co.uk

The Bronze is the new name for York based, long time song-writing partners Holly Taymar and Chris Bilton. The duo have made a conscious decision to try and expand from the lead singer + accompaniment dynamic that they've long been associated with to more of a collaborative sound. On first listen it's been a good move as 'The Bronze' is a noticeable development from previous releases.

More rounded as a whole the album presents a number of themes and ideas wrapped beautifully in the best set of songs the duo have released thus far. 'Gun To The Floor' opens the record with a lazy yet inviting strum that brings to mind The Sundays at their lyrical best whilst 'Hearts Beating Slow' offers a nod to the vibrant York singer-songwriter scene that Holly emerged from in the mid-noughties.

'Seeking Me Out In The Dark' is the first track that offers a real example of how the duo have progressed their song-writing ability as a gentle strum and delicate flow gives way to an aching vocal melody that fair makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It's probably miles away from what The Bronze are aiming for but the song brings to mind a couple of the more tender moments from the Foo Fighters classic 'The Colour & The Shape' record.

'Not Just For The Day' is another great example of this as a gentle folkified verse flows into a soaring chorus that belies the brooding lyrical content. 'Next Week' is another highlight with a train-ride drumbeat underpinning the albums most head-noddingly rocky moment.

If the change in name and progression in sound was aimed at opening the duo up to a wider audience and providing a little more identity to set them apart from the singer/songwriter set then The Bronze can consider this album a smart move and one that should help them continue an upward trend into 2015.

The ability to kick out a tune that makes people sit up and take note from the off is a rare one but The Bronze now have it in spades. Buffy fans should buy this record for the name alone, the rest of you should buy it simply because it's really, really good.

Rob Fearnley