Veronica Falls (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

“Found Love in a Graveyard” kicks off the debut by London’s Veronica Falls; it’s one of many jangly, reverb-laden numbers that yield a surprising intensity thanks to James Hoare’s urgent, adrenalin-pumping guitar work. One presumes bands like The Clean and The Wedding Present might top a list of Hoare’s influences, and he’s done a bang-on job of getting all he can out of that style. “Come on Over” pushes the nerve-tremor energy to another level, and “Beachy Head” (with gloomy, gothy vocals moaning in the background) juxtaposes those guitars’ wind-tunnel whoosh against a different setting. Roxanne Clifford’s airy, winsome voice offsets the coming doom of “Bad Feeling” while Hoare’s guitar work attempts a bit of surfdom, but one gets the feeling a killer wave’s about to hit; it’s not all sunshine and high-fives. Veronica Falls is a great first effort, and if this sound is new to you check out the original wave of C86-style bands such as The Pastels, Shop Assistants, and Heavenly.