The battle of Hemsby

Having left their seaside beginnings 5 years ago, they arrived in London (via Manchester) and have been gigging and recording in various forms ever since. Starting out as a duo, they presented their well-crafted songs in a Simon and Garfunkel/Everly Brothers vocal harmony which is clearly evident on this album (The Book and London). What is different now is that the melodies and guitars have been complimented by piano, violin, accordion and percussion and the acoustic songs interspersed with a potent blend of frequency filling soundscapes taking in influences from The Flaming Lips, Super Furries, early Lemonheads and most notably Elliott Smith's Heatmiser. The Battle of Hemsby is so-called because Sam and Rowan ('Me') used to bunk off college and drive out to a chalet owned by Rowan's grandad in the dead- end Norfolk coastal town of Hemsby.