Chiming guitars, gentle piano, an angelic female voice, a wistful melody and heavenly harmonies: there’s little to dislike about the opening salvo on The Crayon Set’s eponymously-titled debut long player. ‘I Wanted You’ (also a single release) is the sort of perfect, if generic sounding tune that is typically marked down as, “sparkling indie-pop”. In truth there isn’t a better way of describing the Dublin based eight-piece collective who’ve been around for about five years.
The Crayon Set’s approach is clearly inspired by the likes of Belle & Sebastian, not to mention the ‘80s originators of the genre including most of the Postcard label roster and the C86 movement. There’s an effervescence and joyousness to songs such as ‘Wonderland’ (which recalls Teenage Fanclub in their lighter moments) and ‘Drifting Closer To The Sun’ which is more Californian power-pop. Other highlights include ‘No 1 Fan’, a head-rush of guitars and harmonies, the eminently catchy ‘I Worry’ and quirky ‘Sick Days’. Colourful stuff!

Key Track: ‘Wonderland’