I Know Your Soul

Ever since last year's wonderful 'Laura Loves' single, I have been eagerly awaiting the debut album from Derry quartet Asterix, and now that I've got it, I can't help feeling a little disappointed. Not that it's a bad album. In fact, it's very good, but there is nothing present which can compare with the pristine pop that was their debut single, or indeed its follow-up, 'She's So Young'.

Neither of these excellent songs are contained here: a shame really, considering that at 37 minutes, they could easily have tacked both singles on without the album becoming overlong.

I feel that Asterix didn't really play this one to their strengths. 'I Have' is a good song, but it's a bit ponderous for an album opener. It isn't until the fourth track, 'I Will Break You', that we receive the first glimpse of an uptempo Asterix, and arse-wigglingly catchy it is too. Their trademark harmonies are still in evidence, but there's added bite to the guitars and a stronger sense of urgency than heretofore.

Similarly, 'Showgirl' is as in yer face as it gets, with a chorus worthy of the name, as the band mix melody and power to good effect, even if the vocals are a little muted. The almost dub bass on 'Move' hints at a new direction for the quartet, starting restrained and building into a powerful crescendo, as the guitars clamber and clamour into the frame. 'Don't Go' is a gentle heartfelt plea to a loved one to stick around, while the simple acoustic guitar and vocals of 'Take Me Away' proves that they can slow it down without compromising on quality. It has a nice line in lyrics to boot ("I must be losing my mind but I'm not losing you").

Meanwhile, the current single 'Pulse' lacks the immediacy of previous outings: its gently intertwining guitars and somewhat ethereal vocals take a while to seep under your skin. File under slow burner.

I Know Your Soul is a very good album from a band who are definitely on the way up. By anyone else's standards this would be a highly accomplished debut, but on the strength of their two previous singles, Asterix have even more to offer.

Call me greedy, but I expected it to be brilliant instead of just good, superb instead of merely getting there.