Island Line - Island Line

Stand aside Beth Orton?
There has never been a better time to be a new band. After all,
your MySpace music is a mouse-click away from being heard by A&R
men or potential fans. That said, everyone posts music online these
days, so releasing something physical is still the best way of getting
exposure. After two years of gigging, Island Line have floated
a selffinanced debut LP. The core of this folk-based band are Hazel
Sainsbury and Ian Kellet, who write all of the songs – and what songs
they are. There’s a delicious echo of Beth Orton in Sainsbury’s voice
that really captivates on sparse but beautifully arranged tracks such
as Days Like These and the hand-clap hoedown of Didn’t Know How.
There’s also a nice country feel on the likes of Another Place, while
the pedal steel guitar on the folkska Wake Me Up really works well. The
band are also comfortable penning potential hits, with Punchbag and the
swaggering Sweetheart threatening to become their Central Reservation.
Anyone who loves Beth Orton, Everything But The Girl or simply well
crafted songs with a folk bent and deft lyrics (just listen to the sad
melancholy of Saturday), this one is for you.

Punchbag | PBR 001
Reviewed by Ian Shirley


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