Model Village - You Chose These Woes (2014)

Model Village return with their second album ‘You Chose These Woes’, though on a technicality this could really be their debut. 2012’s ‘A Solution To Everything’ was a compilation of early singles, which no less than The Line Of Best Fit described thus: “As deft as The Shins at their finest and completely ace with it”. That’s an accurate comparison because this new album features subtly brilliant indie-pop with nods toward folk and country.

Featuring no less than three lead singers, the Model Village line-up for ‘You Chose These Woes’ stabilised in their Cambridge hometown during writing and recording after a few months of personnel changes. Unashamedly grown-up, the songwriting on these songs is mature, confident and, crucially, utterly memorable. It’s a terrible burden, but the band wear it with unpretentious dignity. ‘You Chose These Woes’ is ultimately a superbly realised set of songs in which ordinary people search for connections and meaning through the power of great songs. Beautifully simple. That’s a rare thing.