Having played a Lostmusic show over a year ago – I’d already fallen for the gritty guitar pop that marked out The Nightjars as a cut above the rest.  Indeed their 7 song mini LP ‘Towards Light’  from last year contained one of my favourite songs of 2008, the beautiful ‘You Set Me Reeling’ so I already had this new self titled debut LP marked down as something I was looking forward to hearing.

Does the self titled LP meet my expectations?  It’s not as immediate as I’d thought it would be and  it is certainly a less abrasive record that I would have imagined.  The band take influences like Yo La Tengo, REM,  Super Furry Animals and meld a sound that is as close to classic old school indie as you could hope for.

‘You In The Fine Light’ is the most frantic peice of guitar pop on the LP and it kicks the whole show off with a flurry of sharp guitars.  After this though, it’s primarily about some beautifully constructed guitar pop. After repeated listens – it’s slower songs like ‘Valentine’ and ‘Out of Love’ that win you over.  The guitars are wratched up a notch or two on ‘Defeated’  which is a prime piece of REM influenced pop and it hints at their mid 80′s vintage, too.  So all in all, The Nightjars have delivered a rewarding record that is full of great tunes and some wonderfully understated guitar pop.   It might not be the firecracker I was expecting – but this slow burner catches you after a few listens.   One of the best LPs I have heard this year.   The Nightjars is out now and it is self released.

Links:  The Nightjars | My Space