Hell, there must be some planning going on over at the indie superhouse that is 4AD / Beggars Banquet / Matador. Not only have they recently signed itm?-endorsed Broken Records, they are of course home to Camera Obscura and a roster that of late includes TV On the Radio, Stereolab and Bon Iver. Latest signing It Hugs Back have produced a debut that proves the first release from their album, ‘Work Day’, was no fluke. An album as summery as this will undoubtedly brighten up your spring and summer – even if the good ol’ British weather remains as sodding awful as usual.
This is a beautiful album which works completely on its own terms. It’s dreamy, but you’d never call this shoegazing. It’s folky but it rocks, albeit rather gently. It evokes classic guitar stuff, but it’s never indie by numbers or rehashing C86. And is that a hint of Nick Drake? Or perhaps Ooberman? The best records make you want to go back and listen to them as soon as they’ve ended. With this album, you find yourself planning to do so before it’s even finished. Let’s just call this a fabulous debut from It Hugs Back.