Are the 1990s the ‘new’ 1980s? If the noughties wore an angina-inducing t-shirt and drainpipe jeans in perpetual homage to the decade of decadence, 2014 is looking at a flannel-shirted slacker in the mirror.

Fortunately, while Honeyblood are openly in admiration of the Seattle sound, they’re not beholden to it. Sure, the Glaswegian girls point to the Breeders and PJ Harvey as influences but they play a bright and noisy brand of Americana that sounds closer to early Best Coast or an up-tempo Real Estate. Just as well, too, since a lot of revivalist outfits spend so long obsessing over some retro aesthetic that they forget to write any actual songs. No such concerns here as the two-some – sans bass player – serve up enough hook-laden angst to get even the most jaded Generation X-er to look up from his battered old Doc Martens and take notice.

New single Super Rat captures the essence of the record perfectly; scuzzy mid-tempo riffs paired with a sweet & sour roar. Singer and guitarist Stina Marie Claire deploys her wide-range huskiness to excellent effect, navigating from painful remembrance on Braid Burn Valley to contemptuous excoriation on All Dragged Up via everything in between. The catchy, bittersweet Joey is arguably the standout on an album with half a dozen contenders; a wistful, lulling chorus ratcheting up to an unexpectedly bombastic finish. As for Honeyblood, they’re just getting started.

James F. Thompson