Sweet alt-folk
All The Crooked Scenes is the Leeds-based alt-folk mob's debut record and it has been released with assistance from a campaign on Pledge Music which saw them reach their target in just eight days. The album is in some respects closer to pop than it is alt-folk; while many of the tracks on offer have a touch of the melancholic in them it's also very accessible for first time listeners, with strong, bouncy melodies, which aren't catchy as such but certainly radio friendly, and it's easy to listen to which is probably why they have been drawing plenty of attention lately.
While the album is easy on the ear and sweet, it may actually suffer from being a little too easy. The occasional more upbeat and poppy track like Without You draws you back in but often the gentle pace and the band's tendency to sit comfortably within their comfort zone can make your attention wander.
While this is a pleasant journey, there is nothing here that you won't have heard before so the album doesn't really excite or hold you in place either. Perhaps one of the album's selling points is Ellen's 'dusky' vocal. She certainly has a distinctive and a very husky tone, but it is one of those love-them-or-hate them voices, so if its not your cup of tea you may find her hard to place accent and oddly ended phrases can distract you too much from what's going on around them on occasion, throwing you out of the moment.
A sweet and sometimes charming pop-folk record with an easy, accessible tone for new listeners. Ultimately though, as it doesn't challenge your expectations, you may find it doesn't have staying power.