"This young coastal Scottish quintet from Irvine proudly reclaims the joyous pop sound of such early '80s Postcard bands as Orange Juice and Aztec Camera; singer Frank Reader's voice bears an uncanny resemblance to Roddy Frame's. The pristine-sounding 'Cake' is an exceptionally good debut, a refreshing mix of ringing guitars and rich broguish harmonies.
After such a promising debut, 'I've Seen Everything' blooms with even more depth and breadth. Deftly produced by Ray Shulman, the album boasts plenty of marvelous, grand-scale pop, especially the two splendid tracks that open it. Underneath Reader's resigned voice, 'Easy Read' makes superb use of a dripping string section to wring every ounce of drama out of a wracking tune. But the Smiths-like 'Hayfever' is the group's zenith; strings add warmth as this gorgeous, catchy track moves forcefully through dramatic verses and an arching chorus. While the LP takes a more somber, hushed turn thereafter, it never loses its thoughtful charm, and even returns to a more stomping dynamic level on the hypnotic neo-psychedelic 'One At A Time.' The group subsequently self-produced a third album, released in mid-'96."
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