After some turbulent times, the brilliantly named Daisyhead are back with their second album ‘In Case You Missed It’ and it´s fair to say that the boys from Nashville have delivered a pretty enjoyable record. They are a little hard to classify as they flit between alt-rock, shoegaze, pop-rock and emo-punk, but the overall effect is positive and it’s nice to see a band doing their own thing, rather than conforming to pre-established stylistic limitations.

‘Hold The Door’ kicks it all off with a massive slice of shoegazey rock that really nails it; the atmospheric intro giving way to ponderous beats and spacious guitars that build into a wall of sound to get the album off to a great start. Title track ‘In Case You Missed It’ follows in style with another strong track of intense alternative rock that also hits the spot.

In fact, pretty much everything works, even if one or two songs are on the ordinary side. For instance, ‘Never Know’ doesn’t really go anywhere, but it´s still likeable, while ‘Common Ground’ and the guitar-heavy ‘Don’t Feel Bad’ are both cool, if not spectacular. Nevertheless, there is plenty that does kill, like ‘Bodies’ with its hooky chorus, the gathering intensity of ‘TV Song’ and the urgent rock of ‘Our Last Exchange’.

There are a couple of wistfully atmospheric numbers like the stripped down ‘Ready For The World’, but it’s the twisting textures of ‘Dark Circus’ that really shows of Daisyhead’s versatility; its breezy indie/pop/rock taking an interesting turn or two to deliver a great track. Its intense finale provides a sharp contrast to the tender vocals and wistful guitars of closing track ‘Opryland Lights’

On the whole, this is a solid performance from Daisyhead that makes for a pretty damn good record. Well worth checking out.

3.5/5

‘In Case You Missed It’ by Daisyhead is released 28th April on No Sleep Records.

Daisyhead links: Facebook|Twitter“Bandcamp

Words by Edward Layland (@EdwardLayland)