Joe Innes & The Cavalcade
Album: Brian I'm A Genius Too
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 6
Website: http://www.joeinnes.com

Following up 2012 album 'The Frighteners' Joe Innes and his Cavalcade are back with new 6 tracker 'Brian, I'm A Genius Too'. Championed by Steve Lamaq, Tom Robinson and Huw Stephens amongst others, Innes deals in a splendid brand of wittily sardonic lyricism backed with modern folk/indie which is equal parts Decemberists and Slow Club. More American influenced than many of his British peers, Innes has crafted a splendid set of songs full of thumping bass lines, gang vocals and hand claps underpinned by sharp musicianship.

There's an air of coolness that you would expect from an act so heavily rooted in the London music scene but thankfully the smugness is left out making the EP accessible and welcoming. Opening track 'Wake The Dead' has an almost identical opening to Bright Eyes classic 'I'm Wide Awake Its Morning' but that's where the comparisons end as the tune charges off on a bass heavy stomp. It's a good start and a similar story throughout with 4 other tunes topped off by the comedic short 'Laughing Gas' with its "the first time I tried laughing gas I cried" refrain typifying Innes' intelligent wordsmithery. All in all Joe Innes & The Cavalcade are not creating anything ground-breaking but this is certainly a fun set of songs worthy of wider audiences.

Rob Fearnley