Years ago a mate of mine would buy any album that was awarded 5 stars in Q Magazine; regardless of whether he’d listened to it or not. I have a feeling that this new release by English Teacher would easily receive that accolade and thus another artist would have been discovered by my mate and then shared with me.
If This Could Be Texas had not just won the 2024 Mercury Prize (I always check this out) and subsequently shared on YHIHF, English Teacher may well have passed me by. What a damn shame that would have been.
The album is captivating from the start. If you are a fan of undoubtedly cool British sounds, with quirky lyrics, sometimes complex rhythms, delicious vocals, superb musical craftsmanship and top production then this album is 100% for you.
It’s difficult to classify and there clearly numerous influences running throughout the 13 track, 50 minute journey. There are hints of post-punk indie vibes in there, Sonic Youth, LCD Soundsystem on occasion, and snippets of spoken-word poetry – a blend that is exciting and rather addictive.
There’s so much to love here. R&B is superb, as is Nearly Daffodils but to choose just a couple favourites does the rest of the album an injustice. Just press play and soak up the whole damn recording!
5 stars in Q for sure… and 10/10 for me on You Heard It Hear First
