In the wake of the C86 movement, UK indie pop outfit The Chesterfields (written as The Chesterf!elds) released three full-length albums. After Kettle (1987), Crocodile Tears (1988) and Flood (1994), they now are back with new LP New Modern Homes, and what a pleasant surprise it is. I think they’ve missed making music a lot, because you hear (and see) how they enjoy it. The current line-up featuring Simon Barber (bass, vocals), Rob Parry (drums), Helen Stickland (guitar, vocals) and Andy Strickland (guitar, vocals) recorded twelve tunes covering all corners of the jangle pop genre. Thanks to appealing lyrics – the song titles alone already feel like chapter titles of an exciting novel – and changes of singers and tempo, the album remains captivating for 38 minutes. This is a sympathetic and well-crafted album that easily floats into your heart.
New Modern Homes, produced by John Parish, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Mr. Mellow’s Music.