Cigarettes After Sex - Cigarettes After Sex

This self titled offering marks Cigarettes After Sex full length debut. Immediately apparent is the ambient dream-like atmosphere which resonates on each of these 10 tracks. Conjuring fleeting touchstones with The XX and early Bon Iver amongst others, this is a self assured and confident release. Early doors, and strangely enough the oldest tracks on this album, K and Atmosphere provide the highlights of the LP. The Buckley-esque jangly guitars, sexy bass rumbles and expertly elocuted half whispered lyrics help to enhance the dream vibe. Whilst these qualities are evident elsewhere, other tracks can feel somewhat lacking and perhaps a little formulaic. Even the closer Young & Dumb with its more risque (and perhaps childish) lyrics fails to up the ante considerably. Sadly there are few duff tracks here too, in particular the painfully corny Sweet and downright dreary Opera House. At times, then, a decent album, at others not so much. What's not in doubt though is the brilliant atmosphere the band effortlessly creates. However, whilst dreaming is all well and good, you can have too much of a good thing and it is necessary sometimes to be rudely shaken awake just to check that you're still alive.

5/10