It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the Straight Lines camp, the band have always been favourites here at PT towers and with ‘Reflect’ that status isn’t about to change any time soon.
The EP kicks off with the title track and you’re met with a glorious, face pounding riff offset by a huge opening vocal that gets you pumped from the word go. Tom Jenkins’ vocals sound absolutely incredible throughout the EP but ‘Reflect’ is a prime example of how good his vocals can be. Straight Lines have always screamed potential, their ability to write a chorus and a vocal hook is almost second to none and the fact of the matter is, this band should be a lot bigger than they are, whether it’s the surf rock-esque solo in ‘Swim Up River’ or the stompathon that is EP closer ‘Praise Me, Praise You’ there is something here for everyone to nod ferociously along to.
Serving as a prelude to their upcoming UK tour ‘Reflect’ does its job in suitably whetting appetites for the future of Straight Lines… with any justice their next full length will see them break through to the mainstream audience they sorely deserve, welcome back boys.
CHRIS MARSHMAN