I count myself very lucky that when it comes to bands, either by themselves or by their management sending me CDs to review, I’ve had some mighty awesome CDs dropping through the post box, it just goes to show that people do enjoy my music reviews.

Now the other day I received an album from Hampshire band In Darklight, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, so I popped the CD into my computer and uploaded it onto my iPod, it’s easier that way for me to listen to new material on the move

In Darklight were formed in late 2004, although the four band members – brothers Ben and Louis Sellers, Ross Archer and David Green – had been working actively as a band under various names since 2000.

This début album from the four piece band is one that you don’t need to play over and over to get used to it, it’s an album that you’ll play over and over again because it’s acoustically brilliant. Everything fits in together perfectly, guitars, drums, vocals the album is just a joy to listen to.

I can hear you asking what genre the band are, well when you check it out on iTunes, it says “Alternative”, but personally I would add pop/rock on to the alternative, the album is so strong on drums and guitar riffs that it up there with the big boys in my opinion, this is one of those albums that with have any air-guitar or air-drummer giving it some

But saying that, when the album hist the track “Leave Me Here” it slows down, to a wonderful acoustic guitar and some gorgeous dreamy vocals, then onto the short “[Always in my Way]” which nicely flows into “Surface”, boy these guys are truly talented.

As with the tracks I’ve just mentioned it’s not all power tracks, the track “In The Red” is one of those tracks that has no drums, and is one that would sound amazing live with just the piano and vocals of a melting ballad.

Finishing the album off with “Missiles” brings back those key sounds of In Darklight which make this album one that is a must for any music fans collection.

For once I’d like to get an album I could complain about!

I can’t really fault this debut album from In Darklight, even the CD packaging is well designed, Ok I can see you’re waiting for the overall rating of the album, so for sound quality, production and the pure talent of In Darklight I’m giving the album 4.5 out of 5

Check out In Darklight on their MySpace page and their album is now Available Amazon, iTunes and even as a physical Digipak CD.