Ireland may be enjoying a surge of exciting bands in recent times, but it's not just the major label-signed and uber-hyped acts that are doing their bit to thaw the Frames-spearheaded winter of musical discontent. The underground scene - at least in Dublin - has seen bands like Groom emerge to little fanfare but quiet triumphs since forming in 2004.
The quintet originally began as a folk-oriented duo, but their new six track mini-album 'At the Natural History Museum' displays a wealth of sounds and styles beyond the boundaries of pared-down guitar songs. The 9-minute long title track is a strange choice of opener, though; its long, hazy intro becomes an Americana-tinged number before giving way to a glizty 'The Band-do-Space Invaders' shimmer. It's not the most immediate introduction, but the wonderful 'Mythical Creatures' and 'Worst of Places, Worst of Times' - both songs that sound like they were plucked from the bosom of the early '90s indiepop scene - pick up the slack just nicely.
That besides, there's songs that reference everything from retro garage ('Let's Die Together') and Belle & Sebastian's twee bounce ('Death of a Songwriter') here, while closing track 'Moving West' is imbued with a warmth and sincerity that gives its stripped-down base and layers of harmonies a quietly epic feel. Combined with Mike Stevens' sometimes-fragile vocals and wonderfully wry, occasionally poignant lyrics, there's lots for fans of wordy, intelligent indie-pop to like here.
