Sound Of The Sirens is not a duo I am overly familiar with and I have not had the opportunity to hear their 2017 debut album ‘For All Our Sins. ’ However, this West-Country pair will release their second record ‘This Time’ in early 2019 and we have kindly been sent an advance copy for review. Let’s press play…

Opener ‘Awakening’ has fluid acoustic guitar flowing alongside light drumming/percussion whilst Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood create this powerful and controlled harmony vocal. A sure live set-opener for gigs I feel.

‘Believe’ is a Celtic foot-tapper tune a puts images of medieval knights on horseback chasing Robin Hood-esque character in my mind with its rhythmic beat. Fans of Jack Savoretti would probably enjoy this number.

‘Another Day’ lyrically concerns itself with understanding that as an individual you have to love and trust yourself before you offer the same to someone else. The production of this song has been done in such a way that I can’t help but feel that it is someone arguing with themselves before opening up to a person emotionally.

‘Troubles’ features a lovely piano sound and the vocals sound very much like Sophie Ellis Bextor at times – which is no bad thing. A radio single contender I wonder.

‘The Yellow Road’ is not an ode to Sir Elton John but a tale of being left to fall on the Yellow Road. Unfortunately, it is unclear what the ‘Yellow Road’ is or what it represents but it could be about the Wizard of Oz’/ ‘Wicked’ stories. If we ever get the opportunity we will ask them!

My favourite track ‘All The Webs’ features this eerie hypnotic melody and is not dissimilar to Ward Thomas’ material. A real atmosphere is created here.

‘All We Need’ is musically well-played but overall seems a bit cold.

‘Through The Night’ is a tender moment with sweeping piano and heartfelt lyrics which is a complemented with uncomplicated productions.

‘Have It All’ is an earworm of a chorus with textured backing vocals and fits snugly on the album with its three minutes and eighteen seconds runtime.

‘Keeping Us Alive’ is a vocal masterpiece which soars like a majestic phoenix in the sky and proves why this is a strong pairing.

‘The Order’ is a tad forgettable compared to ‘Lie Awake’ which features a subtle guitar trill sound that fits the song perfect.

‘Count Our Luck’ is lyrically very honest as the topic of trying to build a relationship up and working through it. The use of light percussion makes this song more three-dimensional and puts me in mind of early Amy Macdonald.

Penultimate track ‘Four O’Clock’ features catchy handclapping whilst the closer ‘Every Time’ has a lullaby intro and sprightly acoustic guitars unifying for a rousing finish.

In conclusion, ‘This Time’ as a body of work has more of an emphasis on genuine lyrics and skilled musicianship as opposed to a flashy synth-drenched pop production and I think potential listeners will respect Sound Of The Sirens for that. A slight criticism is that fifteen tracks is a lot for a record which is not a ‘greatest hits’ or compilation and that perhaps a ten-track album release followed by a five-track EP might have been an option but otherwise a pleasant folk-rock release.

Glenn Sargeant