Sullivan & Gold: For Foes Smalltown America

Derry's music scene is under-
going something of a purple patch at the moment, with acts such as SOAK and Little Bear. Add to that list Sullivan & Gold, aka Adam Montgomery and Ben Robinson, a singing, songwriting and occasionally harmonising duo. Perhaps they're a little too forcefully in thrall to Keane and Coldplay with their brand of piano and acoustic-based pop. Still, there's a lot to like when Sullivan & Gold take the bombastic choruses down a notch. Jigsaws is the best track here, a song of regret that echoes 1970s AOR, while gorgeous a capella track Please Repeat begs the question of why harmonies aren't fully utilised throughout. Run Faster starts off like Villagers-
meets-O Emperor before breaking into an ill-advised dance outro, but this is such an accomplished debut that minor misgivings are easily overlooked. breakingtunes.com/sullivangold

Download: Please Repeat, Jigsaws