The Hours are Anthony Genn and Martin Slattery. Last year Jarvis Cocker described the band as follows: “They understand what music is for – it’s for human beings to communicate with other human beings. It’s that simple, it’s that important. Let them into your life. You won’t regret it.” After listening to this debut album I tend to agree but would add just a couple of things to Cocker’s succinct recommendation; the music has to be melodically accessible and lyrically right. The Hours is indeed the complete package, and this is a highly accomplished debut album.

Sonically I guess many would compare the band to pop-rockers Keane not least for the heavy (and magnificent) use of piano virtually throughout the album. But The Hours is more than that. There’s sincerity, truth, adventure and passion here that defies record company and radio station dictates; this is the real and very moving deal. Take Love You More, that describes in the simplest and most lucid terms how much someone is loved: “I love you more than my record collection, I love you more than my football team, I love you more than my Adidas trainers (if you knew me better you know what that means)…” The songs is delivered in (an almost vicious) heavy rock rhythmic fashion that underlines its underlying sincerity. It’s believable. Back When You Were Good is an epic tome fashioned around strong piano notes and beautifully produced by the band. Melodically it couldn’t be much stronger, while the vocal is clear and expressive: the lyrics highly crafted and powerful (“I know you better than you know yourself, and it’s no use, you can’t buy a new life off the shelf…”). This could be a chart-topping single. The pace and mood throughout the album are nicely diverse, for example, Icarus moves along at medium tempo, while I Miss You is glacial in pace with the most subtle of instrumental backdrops (including a mournful cello) and is intensely moving. I Need To Know boasts an intense bass rhythm with momentary guitar flourishes, while closing track Let Me Breathe has a blues opening that builds into a fine pop ballad. Every song here hits the bulls-eye and it’s hard to believe that this is the band’s first full-length album release. If you buy one album in 2007, make it this one.

4.5/5