The Loft Club - Dreaming The Impossible (2020)

Following well-received EPs and live shows supporting Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds, this is the debut album from the Loft Club. The five-piece hail from Exeter in Devon, but their sound is pure Merseyside. They have clearly taken inspiration from the sound of The La’s and The Coral, while also nodding to 1960s Californian band The Byrds. With breezy guitars, light touches of psychedelia and upbeat tunes, this is a sound made for summer. The album was recorded in Devon and it exudes that relaxed, hazy, summertime-in-the-country vibe.

Songwriter and lead singer Daniel Schamroth creates a nostalgic sound, paying homage to the influences mentioned above. It’s classic indie rock that harks back to the heyday of Britpop, especially in the vocals. The band’s members are all accomplished musicians: Kieran Chalmers’ percussion is complex and layered, clearly intended to be appreciated through headphones; the guitars use jangly open chords to great effect; and Schamroth’s harmonies with backing singer Josie Stoneman are charming.

The cheeky jangly bell percussion, evocative lyrics and breaking vocals of I’m Just a Man are a highlight. True Love feels like wide summer beaches, while Flat Broke’s Celtic folk inflections are poignant and emotional. Waves is another highlight: it’s a building, driving song, with Schamroth channelling The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft. Closer Flicker has previously been remixed by Pras of Fugees fame, which is a pleasant surprise.

The album’s uncomplicated charm is like a nostalgic hug. However, the record lacks a song as delicately penetrating as, say, The Coral’s Dreaming of You, the likes of which is needed to push the release to a bigger audience. It’s the musical equivalent of a cool breeze through an open car window on a boiling hot day: pleasant and refreshing, but ultimately ephemeral and not necessarily something you would feel the need to tell others about. Having said that, it will no doubt find a loving audience.~Jessica Wall