The Hazey Janes are an indie outfit from Dundee, Scotland and they have already established themselves as an act worthy of the following based on the 2006’s Hotel Radio. After a sci-fi inspired instrumental intro, we get to “Carmelite” – a superior 80’s styled guitar rocker that thrills along the lines of Van Halen and REO Speedwagon.
The synth and guitar combo of “Girl In The Night” opens up to a hummable melody and tight composition. Lead vocalist Andrew Mitchell has a strong presence and his vocals stand out on each track, but here he hits the pop sweet spot. The forceful “Wake Guide To Love” recalls both Utopia and Bon Jovi at once with as a stadium sized rocker with a nice hook. “Aspen” and “The Darkness Falls” adds alt country flavor and it’s appearance is out of left field, but this is still engaging. It shifts gears again on “Southern Lawns” and it’s ringing guitar textures will please fans of Blur or Manic Street Preachers. As you can read with all the above influences, the band goes all over the place, not sticking in one genre. As a testament to bands excellent musicianship, nothing here falls flat but the problem with this album is it may be too stylistically diverse to please any one audience. But don’t let that stop you from adding this one to your playlist.
