Eddie Mullan’s No Clarity

If you haven’t heard of The Jane Bradfords yet, what rock have you been hiding under? They were on BBC News for their chart topping in Qatar, they featured on NC podcast #3 and they’ve released their self-titled debut earlier this month on their own label.

With its lush tapestry of synth keyboard, beautiful shimmering rising guitar chords and well controlled electric drums featuring throughout, it would be easy to quickly judge The Jane Bradfords as just another indie-pop record without substance, the kind you read about in your local rag week-in-week-out; but no, unlike the cult drugsploitation flick that the band reference in their name and throughout the album, this is no simple one-sided composition; the lyrics and Declan’s warm vocals fill the LP with shades of sober thoughtfulness with the occasional melancholic moment: “Poor Jane Bradford…Where she’s going, you never can come back from, they said” -a reference to not being able to escape the addiction of cocaine, and “I’m gonna put these dreams aside for just a while, I’m gonna lock them away”.

Golden Ticket reveals the first turning point in The Jane Bradfords, brimming with hope “She won’t understand but I’ve got to go”. Other standouts include the cascading synth of Ninety-Nine, the catchy Hide From The Cold, swaying singalong of Little Miss Sunshine, the energy-fuelled Strategy #2 (Fight Them All) and the wonderfully subtle closer The Evening Angels Gather Here.

The Jane Bradfords should be enjoyed and celebrated as a great headphone album, with its harmonic blending of the tracks giving that ‘not necessary to skip’ quality and is best enjoyed with some top noche cans. Also noted is the production by Start Together Belfast and SaffMastering Chicago which is fuckin A. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy: Light fades, stars appear, the evening angels gather here.