Low Island release their debut album, If You Could Have it all Again, via Emotional Interference. Following in the indie-electronica footsteps of Radiohead, Glass Animals, Caribou and Keane, the Oxford quartet paint a picture of a turbulent twenties through its joyous ups and desolate downs...

The press material compares Low Island to the likes of Radiohead, Glass Animals and Caribou. Whilst it's obvious that these bands are probably huge influences for the group, I wouldn't for a second put them in the same league. Although, for a debut album this is interesting enough.

Over the course of 11 songs (40 min, 11 sec) we should get a feel for the band and their style, but I couldn't help coming away from this thinking that I hadn't. In fact it felt almost as though the band wrote the song separately and then threw them all together on mixing day. This results in a very uneven and, on occasion, rather bizarre listening experience. Some tracks are solid and others are a little naive and feel like a first pass.

It's not a bad album by any stretch of the imagination. But, for a debut, when they're eager and fresh, you could be forgiven for expecting a little more.

6

Nick Smithson