I didn’t want to enjoy ‘Midas’, Wunderhorse’s sophomore album, as much as I did, because it would’ve made it worse that I never managed to secure tickets to their October tour. I failed to make their Live at Leeds: In the City performance last year, too. And I’m feeling bitter about it. But perhaps just having this new record to revel in is actually enough. 

Cards on the table: I’m not sure we’ve quite got a ‘Leader of the Pack’ rival amid these ten tracks, but oh boy are there some serious contenders! The slickness of that older, super-popular single is contrasted to here on this overwhelmingly grunge-fuelled collection of belters. Some are riotous and, therefore, more upbeat; others are slower and moodier. 

The latter’s true of ‘Emily’ and ‘Girl’, two tunes that are a bit shoegazy and nothing ‘new’, per se, but they seamlessly slot into the background of a sleepy afternoon pottering around the flat. The pedal tones have that fuzzy familiarity, and I’m not just talking about on the previously released singles. There’s a warmth to the soothing, mellow indie-rock undercurrent. Plus, if you skip right to the finale, ‘Aeroplane’ serves as another example of this, where a melancholy, remorseful hook and soft drumming promote an easy-listening close to the album. There’s some experimental noodling and fretwork atop the core chords, but it’s otherwise a finish that reminds me of old-school Band of Horses.

It’s funny how this group can do that; flit from one style to another, ranging from the calmer, more Stereophonics-ish stuff to the bolder, brasher offerings like the heavy ‘Rain’, ‘Cathedrals’ and ‘Silver’. Hold tight for the shredding solo on the latter, because it’s a winner. 

It’s ‘July’ that’s music to my grunge-seeking ears. Those who didn’t notice within a second that this smacks (really firmly) of Nirvana’s ‘In Bloom’, dial up the volume and rewind! See? Yep, it’s begging to be headbanged to. Maybe a favourite by default? Perhaps. But it gives the record another suave edge, and mixes well with the ducking and diving done on other songs, by upping the rock factor against the wistful numbers. 

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘July’