These might still be the early years of this band, since they formed in 2004. Yet, this London-based trio (David Malkinson, Roger Mackin and Phil Raines) has achieved quite a lot in such a short time: soon after they formed their demo tape received air-backing on Radio One and XFM, while Beggars Banquet signed them.
Their eponymous album opens with the blistering sonic assault of ‘All Ones & Zeros’, but one of its finest moments is ‘Brown Hearts’, a track tinged by the melancholy of Red House Painters and enriched by some explosive guitar solos towards the end, reminiscent of early Mogwai. ‘Muzik Der Frühen Jahre’ is a long instrumental that will take you on an interstellar journey made of mournfully elegant guitar musings, while closing song ‘This Ain’t Happiness’ ends the album in a Beach Boys-evoking mood.
The Early Years are a band with many influences as the tracks featured on this album prove, their best skill, though, is that, despite their sources of inspiration are manifold, they easily manage to achieve a good cohesion.