If Chapel Club‘s whimsical rock songs were a boy, they’d be described as burly, handsome, charming… but never pretty. These are unshaven, silver-tinted and often agonised adventures, ones full of muttering drums and well-constructed guitar sections, and a little gloss. Unlike The Guardian, I quite like Surfacing, the band’s cover of Dream A Little Dream For Me: Lewis Bowman’s slightly faux voice, which can sound like White Lies’ Harry McVeigh one moment and a very posh Morrissey the next, strangely suits the vintage, bowler-hat lyrics. What Chapel Club lack though – despite second single O Maybe I’s best, sprawling efforts - is a catchy anthem, something to captivate 6 Music or Xfm listeners. For that, they might need be a bit prettier.
Decide for yourself, though: Chapel Club are playing Village Underground on Thursday 27 May (tickets).
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MP3: Chapel Club – Surfacing