Elliot Minor’s first album passed me by without causing a stir. In addition, I’ve seen this band perform live on a couple of occasions, but was never sure where the guys were heading; what their true musical identity was. This new album changes that very dramatically. Behind it is some excellent song writing, with production that truly brings out the best of the songs and the band’s playing abilities. In short, Elliot Minor is now a British band to be reckoned with, and Alex Davies one of the best young writers around.

Okay, I’m surprised at just how good this album is. Opener ‘The Dancer’ sets the scene nicely with a song that gently winds its way along accompanied by plucked strings and a wonderfully expressive vocal performance from Davies. The song is driven by a powerful, hook-laden melody, driving rhythm with pace and sound that builds as the song progresses onto its rocky conclusion. Then seamleassly into the next track, ‘I Believe’, one of the albums several standouts. The opening instrumental passage is knockout, and it just gets better to reach a
level that I can only describe as epic - with a capital E. This should have been the first single off the album, and I do not understand why it wasn’t… Next track, ‘Electric High’ was one of the first singles off the album and I can understand why; it’s got the guitar riffs, it’s got the infectious choruses, and, like everything else here, the performance and melody are top level. But it also lacks the distinction and class of ‘I Believe.’ Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful album track, just not the best.

Then ‘Coming Home’makes its gorgeous, utterly beautiful and moving entry - one of the best pop-rock songs I’ve heard in 2009. Davies knows how to write a great melody and lyrics, and this song proves it. But what’s also clever is the way heavy rock instrumentals are introduced alonside piano to create a sound as epic as you can imagine. I smell another chart-busting single… I love the way one song meets another on this album, while the quality is maintained throughout. ‘Carry On’ repeats the trick with wonderfully sampled vocals introducing a song about hope, and that hits the bull’s-eye like few British indie bands have managed in 2009. Davies’s vocal is of the highest quality and evokes high emotion. Check out the desperate pleading vocals at the end of the song - superb and if this doesn’t move you, nothing will. Straight into the album’s title track, ‘Solaris’, and yet another standout (shit, this bloody album is full of ‘em!). The multi-layered vocals are magical, the guitar riffs raises goode-bumps…

Other standouts include the piano-led, stripped down contemplative beauty of ‘All Along’with its gorgeous solo and backing vocals, and ‘Discover (Why The Love Hurts)’ which combines piano and rock instrumentals so effectively. Then there’s the highly original and distinctive ‘Shiver’, heartbreaking, young love song ‘Tethered’, and darker vibe of closer ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around.’

With this album, Elliot Minor have entered true indie rock territory and in the process created an album that I feel strongly could cause a stir in the most important music market of all - the USA. I’ve always said that our search for great acts starts with the record and on this occasion I think we’ve found one. Essential.

4.5/5