Elvyn - Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour
I seriously dug the Canadian group Elvyn’s 2010 release, The Decline. Sounding like Teenage Fanclub had formed a band with Ryan Adams, it provided the perfect blend of power pop with alt country sensibilities, and five years later I’m still playing it regularly.
When I heard ‘Ellie’, the first song to be released from their long-awaited follow-up, I was hooked all over again. I think I’ve played that tune more than any other since it was released as a free download in September. And now here’s the accompanying album, featuring a further ten songs. It’s not all quite as immediate and rockin’ as ‘Ellie’, but it’s wonderful all the same, the kind of record that improves with every listen and one that is even better than its predecessor.
To these ears, at least, perfect power pop melds the most appealing aesthetics of the past with modern ideas, and that’s something that Elvyn have managed brilliantly here. The genius of it is that it constantly evokes classic groups while remaining new and exciting. Take ‘True Luv Can’t Hide’ which sounds like a long-lost Wings track, ‘Bread And Butter’ bringing to mind the bluesy/boogie-esque numbers that Badfinger did so well, and the final song ‘Everyone Is Calling My Name’ echoes the majestic, melodic folk of Simon and Garfunkel.
Of course you may well listen to the album for yourself and think of other reference points along the way, but this is no mere nostalgic exercise, it’s something fresh and original and, above all, a joy to listen to. Highly recommended. 10/10