DUO ARE À LA MMODE

Alittle quiz to start. What do Kings of Leon, Biffy Clyro and Radiohead have in common with Mmode – a new band from Belfast? What if I threw the Bee Gees, Oasis and the Jackson 5 into the mix? The Cheeky Girls?! Five points if you’re now thinking “siblings”. Mmode are Thomas and Lucy Gaffney – and they’ve just released a surprise (and very late) contender for my Irish album of the year.

Their eponymous debut is released today. There hasn’t been much in the way of fanfare – in fact Lucy and Thomas have eased themselves back onto our radar, having previously caused something of a stir a few years back, releasing music under the name Southern. They signed a deal and relocated to Liverpool – but Thomas took ill – with what transpired to be a rare form of Crohn’s Disease – and they understandably returned home. Thom set his guitar aside for a spell – and that could have been the end of that.

Thankfully – his recovery coincided with a period of creativity and demo recording with Lucy, in a homemade studio. It was a different sound – with his sister more to the fore – and thus a new project was born – as well as a new band name.

The first tease was ‘Waiting in the Desert’ in the summer, a shuffling, quietly euphoric little gem, showcasing Lucy’s sultry vocals and Thomas’ knack for creating hypnotic, shimmering guitar riffs. They loosely describe themselves as ‘dream-pop’ – which is spot on – fans of Mercury Rev, Lana Del Ray, M83 and the likes – are in for a treat. Many tracks are simultaneously catchy and trippy, and the album gently sparkles from start to finish, a collection of songs designed for summer, yet released in winter. Take ‘Sunrise in Belfast’ – a track so laid back, Thomas and Lucy manage to justify use of that most divisive of musical instruments – the dreaded saxophone. Yet it’s a standout moment.

These 11 songs deserve a wallop of hype. The album is instantly likable – but it’s the longevity that really appeals.

You’ll find yourself rewarded by multiple listens – the production is beautifully layered and each track has the sort of subtle little detail which doesn’t unveil itself straight away. Each time I’ve listened – and I’ve spent a lot of time with this record in the last few days – I pick a different favourite song. So listing standouts is almost pointless – the album insists upon your undivided, undistracted attention for the full 45 minutes, or so. Preferably – as the band once suggested – listening on headphones to soundtrack a notable, picturesque journey. Somewhere nice.

Surely – once this album is heard and digested – it’s only a matter of time before word gets out about Mmode – Northern Ireland’s best kept secret.