Anteros, When We Land - album review

Anteros, the London four-piece, have released their debut album - chock-full of sumptuous bass, jangling guitars and rising keys.

It's just what you'd expect from this rejuvenated corner of the musical spectrum, but to say it is run of the mill or too generic would be unfair.

They have a real oomph about them. The kind of experimental bass that made Still Leven so irresistible, a vocalist in Laura Hayden who demands attention. She sits comfortably between the high pitched deliveries of Ladyhawke or Mariam Wallentin of Swedish duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums (who provided the theme song for the hit Sky Atlantic show Fortitude).

There's some seriousness mixed in with the fun-time pop tunes. An awareness of the difficult world we all currently inhabit.

That seriousness is transformed into hopefulness and used as a weapon of guidance for disillusioned listeners. The chorus of Afterglow encapsulates this. Sketchy, warning-fuelled verses with those reverberating synths build slowly to a real outpouring of emotion that should prove popular live.

There's more of this in Drive On. As the title suggest, it's a real journey of a song, a coming-of-age tune if you like. This time guitars are our main accompaniment, but a well-built chorus again feels like we are being given inspiration to keep on fighting the good fight.

Through their music they come across as the kind of guys you'd like to meet. Full of ideas and life hacks but with just enough love for silliness that a pint with them would be as much fun and games as lessons.

There's a real pop banger in Ordinary Girl. Here, Laura goes full Karen O with her wistful vocals while percussion slams across the room behind her.

And the big showtime chorus of Let It Out has her going all Florence Welch on us as she really opens up the lungs and lets rip.

There's a lot of inspirations swirling around in this which will probably sound different to each listener. And that, more than anything else, lifts them well above the "generic" tag.

Rating: 7/10

Anteros play Mama Roux's in Birmingham on April 11