The backstory reeks of romance: disenfranchised singer Ellery Roberts (the larynx-shredding former frontman of indie rock hopefuls WU LYF) finds a soul mate and kindred spirit in Dutch art student Ebony Hoorn; they form a band, develop a manifesto and write an album tracing a metaphorical journey from hedonism to self-actualisation.

So far, so good. The problem with their debut isn't call-to-arms anthems I&I and Unites or the layered rock of Lost Under Heaven that's equal parts narcissism and nihilism, but the brittle, bloated production (hang your head The Haxan Cloak) that drowns the awful club-pop of Beneath The Concrete and $ORO in hammer-fisted bombast and robs mood-setters Someday Come and Lament of any subtlety.

Less spiritual depth, more shallow subterfuge. luh.international