Bloxx - Lie Out Loud

The problem with indie pop, for most bands, is they forget the second, more infectious part of the formula. It's all very well being Red Stripes aloft in sticky-floored basement dives, but without those hooks, it's a temporary endeavour at best. That's not an issue that troubles Bloxx: debut album 'Lie Out Loud' fizzes with immediacy.

From the sugar-rush of '5000 Miles' to the instant ear-worm of 'Hey Jenny', there's a confident ease throughout. 'It Won't Work Out' shows both a maturity and deftness of touch that eludes so many peers, while the more acoustic-led 'What You Needed' strips back to base principles and still grabs the attention.

Though 'Coming Up Short' - one of a cache of frontloaded massive singles - might be a standout, it's by no means descriptive. When the chips are down, Bloxx more than deliver.

Stephen Ackroyd