We’re big fans of indie-folk collective Tape Club Records, so imagine our delight when a copy of the brand new E.P by Peter Lyons and Kerry Leatham Clothes, Friends, Photos dropped into our inbox with an almighty Ping!

Ping indeed; this E.P hits all the right notes as it breezes through 5 delicious guitar-driven synth-folk-tinged songs, including title track ‘Clothes, Friends, Photos’ and the succinctly tantalising finale ‘Oh, no’.

What originally started as a side-project for the duo has quickly evolved into something entirely more consuming, and the pair showcase perfectly what we’ve come to expect from the fellas (and ladies) at Tape Club- namely enthusiasm, sharp hooks and earthy appeal. The E.P uses the combined vocal forces of critically praised and Fred Perry endorsed sweetheart singer/songwriter Kerry Leatham and Tape Club (and creaturemag) favourite musical whizz Peter Lyons, with a flurry of snaking vocal harmonies and emotionally intertwined guitar arrangements over an underbelly of subtle percussion arrangements.

As with most good music, the subject of love is never far from the narrative, and in this case the E.P. documents and charts the navigational black-water of breaking-up and broken-up.

“I put on love songs, and you put on break-up songs” Pete sings across a uniformly strum guitar chorus, echoing without irony the plodding of a relationship during its twilight months. But there’s no inane pleading, no self-indulgent self-pitying, just a dry and matter-of-fact acceptance from Lyons: “I know that I have to let you go. This means that I’ll have to sell of all my clothes, and I’ll find me some new friends that you don’t know…I’ll take some photos off my wall”.

As with most of Kerry & Peter’s music, the songs on Clothes, Friends, Photos are mainly guitar driven and keyboard based with a liberal spattering of percussion by way of tambourine. Their cultivated trade-mark sound continues in its successful partnership, producing 5 short tracks that would be grand on any spring-time playlist.
So…out with the old, and in with the new.

RATING: 4/5
BEST TRACKS: ‘Clothes, Friends, Photos’, ‘Knees’ and the deliciously succinct ‘Oh, No.’
SOUNDS LIKE: Traditional, narrative driven folk but with a current of electricity running through it & just a whiff of boy/girl chemistry.

Clothes, Friends, Photos is available from today through digital download and from most reputable record stores (“if they don’t have it, ask ‘em to order it in!”)