Eastern Lane - 'Shades of Black' (Rough Trade) Released 19/05/03

Eastern Lane, a four piece from the middle of nowhere (well Berwick-Upon-Tweed to be precise) deliver a promising if slightly wayward debut album here on Shades of Black. They have no local scene to be influenced by; just the North Sea and the converted farm shed that is their rehearsal room. This had led to a collection of personal songs that to be honest could be a bit of a downer to some of you.

Starting out with a couple of spiky, punky songs, it's all a bit Idlewild to start with. The one-two punch to the guts of Portrait of Tuesday and The Royal Way soon point things in an all-together more interesting direction. The hint of alt-country provided here sounds, well just right, and this is justified in the tracks of beauty that consist of the second half of the album. Humard starts the ball rolling with a Crazy Horse atmosphere and sparse lyrics. Then it's a one-way trip down melancholy lane, which leads to the uplifting gospel of Hear the Dark. So ignore the familiar first half, and take the road less travelled of "side 2" and you'll find out where these boys are coming from.