The debut EP from Liverpool's King Hannah, Tell Me Your Mind and I'll Tell You Mine, out now via City Slang, isn't the most original record you're going to hear this month, but it is a fairly engaging one. Building upon the work of pioneers like Nick Cave and Crime & The City Solution, the duo of Hannah Merrick and Craig Whittle commit to these styles with youthful passion. And because of that, the EP is at least compelling throughout.
"And Then Out Of Nowhere, It Rained" briefly sets the scene, then "Meal Deal" creaks and wheezes out. An epic number that recalls both Anita Lane and Cowboy Junkies, it's one of the real highlights here. Elsewhere, "Crème Brûlée" is more atmospheric still, even as "Bill Tench" works up a fairly catchy riff. "The Sea Has Stretch Marks" is a great title in search of a hook, while "Reprise (Moving Day)" is at least loud enough to stun a listener even if it's relatively routine. King Hannah are a young band and there's enough here to suggest that they're worth following, especially as they expand their sound and move beyond the set of obvious influences propelling so much of this.
Tell Me Your Mind and I'll Tell You Mine is out now via City Slang.
More details via the band's official Facebook page.