Angelic Swells

iTunes Review

Neverever are a curious hybrid of Scottish indie rock and ‘60s Southern California girl-group pop. Vocalist Jihae Meek and husband/guitarist Wallace Meek played in different bands in Scotland, but eventually traded in UK gray for SoCal sunshine. Naively simple, throwback lyrics like “You have another/like we had each other” and “I think I see her staring my way” are peppered with plenty of Beach Boys vocal cooing and occasional ‘50s overtones (“Teardrop Tattoo” and “Young Runaways” are borrowed from the Shangri-Las/Dion playbook of sock-hop hits), but on tracks like “Coconut Shampoo,” the sharp, clanging guitar style of Los Campesinos is the underlying force. Their cover of the Plimsouls “Now” is charmingly straightforward and winsome, simmering with lust like a slow dance song that’s charged up just a notch past “acceptable” at the church dance. There is enough edge here to earn the band indie cred, but Angelic Swells is cleanly produced and unabashedly hook-heavy. Those looking for real bite in the guitars will find “Underwater Ballet” a satisfying end to a smart, fun, and fresh-faced collection of tunes.