All Our Good Friends - 'Promise' (Mumbo) Released 28/01/08

Up and coming singer songwriter Johnny Daukes has a resume that includes voice overs for numerous series of terrestrial TV's comedy soft porn programme Eurotrash and performing motorcycle stunts in music videos for popular pop outfits Westlife and Blue. The former vocalist and brains behind indie rock band of the nineties FIN has been out of the limelight since the bands demise in 1997 but has always continued to write in the shadow of other projects. With his album 'Promise' already warmly received following a low key, digital only release earlier this year in the autumn, critics have already championed Daukes as a singer songwriter in the proper sense. A mixture somewhere between the solemn innocence of a young David Essex and the seamless emotive and thought provoking qualities of a solo version of Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Daukes has appeal across the board.

Beginning with track 'This' Daukes delicate vocals and faultless acoustics are brought into play, sounding a little like a Coldplay album filler this short number begins to appeal only to be shattered by a shower of wintry storm breaking sound affects. 'To Catch The Stars' reeks of a melodic and some times harmony filled Marillion number whilst 'Replay' shows Daukes close appreciation for Radiohead. His main influence during much of the nineties, the track has all the hallmarks of 'OK Computer's' 'Karma Police' beginning with sweetly melodic acoustics that eventually merge into a riot of electrically charged tubular guitars. Things start to go a little dark on 'Long Enough To Bring You Back' with deep mono tone vocals, the spirit of the Stone Roses crossed with the instrumentation from The Wombats next release 'Moving To New York' merge to form the perfect formula.

Daukes style is something he has worked on for many a year and his tracks certainly do draw influences from across the board but what's lacking with this album is that vital spark, the thing that is key in setting it apart from all the other lo-fi indie rocker albums. All in all a sound attempt but unlikely to be a frequent recipient of your attentions time and time again.