Donʼt get me wrong, I love a bit of heart on sleeve singer songwriter angst, as too I am rather partial to wading through some good and heavy thought provoking, maybe even challenging, ʻseriousʻ music. I also get a little jittery without my regular fix of down home americana twang. Sometimes though I need a band like Race Horses to pick me up and stick a good dose of pure pop loveliness into my veins. This people they have done with the quite glorious Furniture.

The title track struts and sways in with synths and crooning vocals akimbo. Itʼs like a pallet cleansing sorbet for the ears and all you can do is welcome it with open arms. Mates and Nobodyʼs Son follow on in the same manner. The latter in particular is a stunning display of pop finesse. A slightly agitated bass line is carried along by lush sustained piano and synths building up to a quite glorious chorus, ably aided and abetted by those crisp and deep hewn vocals. Ahhhh yes, more please.

Unfortunately thereʼs a slight blip here. The next couple of tracks, Sisters and What Am I To Do, seem to tread water a little. Luckily we build back up to the glorious My Year Abroad where once again weʼre on an even keel and the best parts of Race Horses are admirably consolidated. Furniture by and large is a gem of a record. Well crafted and well needed. For that you can only be grateful.

-Steve Manser-Knight-