Moreish Idols - All In The Game

Moreish Idols' debut album 'All In The Game' is delightfully tactile; the London five-piece have crafted a record that prioritises texture and atmosphere over hooks, creating an intricate tapestry that reveals gradually rather than announcing itself with fanfare.

Producer Dan Carey's fingerprints are evident throughout, particularly in the way he manipulates tempo and space. The title-track demonstrates this perfectly, with Dylan Humphreys' saxophone parts recorded at varying speeds, creating a disorienting yet compelling effect that mirrors the album's exploration of time and memory. It's clever without being showy, experimental without losing its way.

The decision to have vocalists Tom Kellett and Jude Lilley sing almost everything in unison proves both an artistic statement and a practical solution to ego management. This approach lends tracks like 'Dream Pixel' a ghostly quality, their harmonised voices floating over tremolo guitars like a shared dream. The track itself, inspired by swimming in phosphorescent waters off Cornwall, captures that sense of natural wonder while maintaining the band's post-punk foundations.

Where the album occasionally falters is in its reluctance to break from its carefully constructed atmosphere. While individual moments shine - particularly the personal vulnerability of 'Slouch', which tackles Lilley's diagnosis with Ankylosing Spondylitis - the overall effect can feel somewhat one-note. It's an album that rewards patience and close listening, even if it doesn't always deliver immediate gratification. There's enough substance here to suggest Moreish Idols are playing a longer, more interesting game than most.