The Lost Brothers

So Long John Fante (Bird Dog Recordings)

SO Long John Fante perfectly captures the Lost Brothers’ evolving musical maturity. A sophomore release, and the long-awaited follow up to the Irish duo’s debut, Trails of the Lonely, this maintains the boys’ transcendent folk-pop songs, underlined by delicious, two-part harmony vocals, so tight and interwoven as to make the insertion of even a cigarette-paper an impossibility.

The eleven deftly-crafted parcels of hooks, choruses and divine melodies sound effortless and ambitious, marking a more eclectic release than its predecessor. Only By Light of the Moon harks back to the golden age of doo-wop, while Oh Brother employs an uncomplicated country principle, steadily directed by a solid gospel-style guitar accompaniment.