Cate Le Bon and Tim Presley’s second collaboration as Drinks is every bit as enjoyable as the first. This one is a bit more withdrawn in mood but retains all the great qualities their partnership brings – whimsical lyrics, witty delivery, unexpected moments of profound emotion and some surprisingly punchy riffs from Le Bon’s guitar. Here they enjoy playing around with echo effects on ‘Real Outside’, which becomes a bit spooky, while ‘Leave The Lights On’ inspires a kind of manic response that suggests there might be perils in the dark if the instructions aren’t followed. The mysterious lo-fi approach reflects the recording venue of southern France, where Le Bon and Presley inhabited an old mill where the only sounds were from a violin, the running water of a nearby river and the frogs in it. It’s this kind of quirky combination that is reflected on the album, and which – with a minimum of three listens – successfully wins the listener over. Something different but also inspiring.
Ben Hogwood
4 out of 5
