Empty concrete basements and abandoned school theatres around London provided the inspiration for childhood comrades Tom Havelock and Marcus Efstratiou as the pair designed debut album Never Ever Ever.
After years of late night jams and dead end musical ventures, the twosome formed Hook & The Twin, with early releases “Race For The Bone” and “Tribes” showcasing the vibrant energy and restless nature of the psych-pop duo.
While the pair’s debut gives further insights into the band’s dynamic sound, the record is an unfortunate tale of two extremes; opening strongly before quickly losing direction.
Rousing the record with a comprehensive fusion of synth-driven hums and jumping keys, “That Was A Day” is an impressive opener, while follow up single “We’re So Light” is an exquisite dance floor composition of chord progression and distinguished melodies.
Though as quickly as the record takes shape, the wheels inexplicably fall off, with “Bang Bang Cherry” an excruciating mind explosion of ill-equipped hooks and ruinous lyrics (“Here come the fire engines/ Here come the Pac-Men and the Wolverines.”)
Indeed, lyrical expertise is particularly feeble throughout, though partially redeemed by absorbing electro compositions throughout the backend, and a shift in tempo from manic to more structurally refined, see: “Love Your Own Way”.
The pulsating “They’ll Get Your Head” is a further configuration of plucky bass and electric blends, while “Recklessly” is a subtle arrangement of profound hooks and rolling beats that parades Havelock’s spacey vocals.
With these tracks and absorbing closer “Shiver And Jump” in mind, it seems strange that Hook & The Twin are unable to form a more rounded and consistent release with Never Ever Ever.
Inevitably, the amalgam of sounds leads to a lack of conviction that irreversibly harms the overall composition of the otherwise reasonable debut.
