Don Broco - Automatic

FANS of Don Broco have had to wait a long time for their follow-up to 2012's Priorities but the Bedford quartet have returned with music as sharp as their shirts.

Releasing the title track back in May, Automatic gave a good indication of the band's future direction, forgoing a hard rock sound for something which manages to blend 80s funk, dance and indie rock.

Light flickery guitar licks and plenty of summery 'oohs' flag this track as one for the holiday season.

Despite the abundance of genres fused to each other, guitarist Simon Delaney manages to introduce synth-like effects to the sound on opener, Superlove.

Whereas What You Do To Me benefits from the band's process of writing the songs on acoustic guitars before building on the riffs that stick.

Throughout the album, singer Rob Damiani’s lyrics continue to flow in a 'love letter style' built with catchy choruses as evident on the track Fire.

Recorded over two months with British producer Jason Perry, who has worked with McBusted and The Blackout, it is clear a lot of time has been put in to ensure the record pushes the band’s sound.

Automatic is a game changer for Don Broco, it’s a brave approach for a band who could have done more of the same.

It is an album which is bound to lose the band some of its fans who were drawn to the bands early heavier sound.

Yet, for me, it is a positive progression.

- Automatic is released on August 7

- Don Broco will perform at Reading and Leeds Festival over the August Bank Holiday

LEE HARMAN