(Warp/Inertia)

Maximo Park guitarist dishes up some hazy sunlight pop…

…which makes that front cover photo particularly suitable, an image of palm trees and an art deco high rise almost silhouetted by an omnipresent orange/yellow haze of sunlight. From that description, you can probably tell that Seeing Double bears little resemblance to Duncan Lloyd’s full-time band, the Novacastrian indie popsters Maximo Park. Unlike that group’s frontman Paul Smith, Lloyd adopts a low key, American style of singing over a considerably more relaxed and raw collection of tunes. Seven Letters makes for a thoroughly likeable power pop opener, Suzee has an infectious ‘60s fizz, while Nightfly and Another Chance have a sparse dreaminess not unlike the ‘80s/’90s chime of NZ groups such as The Chills. The album ambles along amiably, without ever reaching a true defining moment – but it’s a record you can enjoy without ever expecting so much. Seeing Double gets by on its hazy melodies and daydream pop performances alone.

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MATT THROWER

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