The Sundries

Three years after the brilliance of their EPs, Full of the Joys of Spring and Magic Johnson, the London-based quartet The Sundries returns with a brand of jangly indie-pop that remains distinctly theirs.

'Playfully poignant', reminiscent of Darren Hayman's lyrical prowess, the band incorporates iconic figures from popular culture, such as Elvis, alongside British wrestling legends like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks in tracks such as "Saturday Wrestling" and "Martin" .These references serve to create subtle yet profound reflections on the album's central themes of unrequited love and expired dreams, all within the context of their charming jangly indie-pop that is so very British.

"High Life" and "Mr. Universe" deliver soft, chiming riffs that resonate with a beauty entirely free of bluster, whereas the smoothness of Alice Players' vocals introduces a languid quality reminiscent of Wendy Pickles' recent work in The Perfect English Weather in "Interval," "Break Up Songs," and "All The Things About Me" as a quintessentially British flair augments the shimmering semi-acoustic guitar-pop that moves within Japanese neo-pop circles.

The Sundries serve as a perfect reminder of the lasting significance and influence of the '90s jangly indie-pop scene, represented by labels like Shinkansen Recordings and Elefant Records.