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Aberfeldy
Young Forever, Rough Trade

Aberfeldy are a bunch of young, Edinburgh-based folkies who have dreamt up the brightest pop debut of the year. Their first single Heliopolis By Night has already garnered a couple of Single of the Week notices, which is only fitting for a robust, motoring tale of UFO abduction partly sung by nasal "aliens" and which deploys fruity instrumentation such as kazoo and Theremin.

Indeed, the vibrant, organic sound of Young Forever is one of its triumphs. Expertly marshalled by Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist/producer Jim Sutherland, its use of mandolin, glockenspiel, fiddle and harmonica is never less than invigorating. Throw in the delicate warble of frontman Riley Briggs, backed by the heavenly trills of Sarah McFadyen and Ruth Barrie, and the result is a kaleidoscope of bright, cheerful sounds.

And every song is a winner. The pastoral ballad Slow Me Down is like an old REM number, Vegetarian Restaurant is a moving song about love over the beansprouts, and Something I Might Tell You is an organ-led anthem that echoes Belle & Sebastian at their perkiest. An album to keep the Indian summer blazing.

Craig McLean
13/09/2004
arts.telegraph.co.uk

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