Alvvays are two women, three men, a crate of C-86 tapes and a love of jingle-jangle. Convening in Toronto, the group's debut self-titled album incorporates nine songs (32 min, 49 sec) concealing drunkenness, defeat and death in tungsten-tinted pop that glitters like sea glass...

Alvvays's debut self-titled indie album is a pretty impressive first foray into the world of commercial music. There's a confidence and life force that oozes from this album, in both the song writing and performing.

We kick off with 'Adult Diversion' which delivers an upbeat grungy sound that is very '90s retro in its production. This is followed by the equally impressive 'Archie, Marry Me'. After only one listen 'Party Police' will sound like a track you've heard before, years before... only you haven't. That's the beauty of Alvvay's writing. Their songs sound like long forgotten classics from your clubbing days.

'Atop a Cake' is a boppy number that will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step, It's a shame that the album didn't end here... for 'Red Planet' closes the album on such a downbeat note. It's not that it's a bad track, just I'd have preferred to have finished the album on a high.

This is such a well polished album, that I didn't know better I'd swear this was a 'Greatest Hits' album of a band that's been around for years. The album is a masterclass in how to deliver an LP of memorable tunes that will rattle around your skull for some time to come.

9

Nick Smithson