This album feels like a gift, and today's my birthday. Also, The Hepburns are from Llanelli, Wales, and my grandfather's family was from Wales so that's another plus. Another one is that these indie stalwarts have made a wonderful record here in Only the Hours, out now via Lavender Sweep Records.
Single "On the Parcels" is as light as air, and smartly constructed, with the vocals from Estella Rosa and Matt Jones making this go down like honey. The Hepburns favor a retro vibe, with a slight Bacharach edge in "Bom Bom Bom" and a Swingin' Sixties one for "Heading for the City", two more highlights here. Without being ostentatious with their arrangements, The Hepburns manage to conjure up memories of past musical legends, while expanding the range of sounds that jangle-pop usually uses. "Send This Film Back to Leni", a real gem of a number here, nods in the direction of The High Llamas in terms of its backing instrumentation, while the rollicking "Student of the Game" is absolutely impossible to dislodge from the brain after one play. You'll likely play this one a bunch of times like I did.
So much of the charm of this new album from The Hepburns comes down to how deftly they blend styles and a set of clear influences. That said, there's something special and unique about the way they've patched this all together. Only the Hours will sit nicely on the shelf next to recent releases from The Orchids and The Chesterfields, but The Hepburns differentiate themselves with their easily elegant arrangements here. The record enters a rare space thanks to the smart production here, and the care shown to how the melodies and vocal-lines can best be served.
Only the Hours by The Hepburns is out now. More details via Lavender Sweep Records, or via the link below for the digital version.
[Photo: The Hepburns Bandcamp]