I really should read press releases but that wouldn’t be as much fun as joining the dots (or rather words) on a band I’ve never heard of. Duly, “Snow In June” by Little Black Dress made its way to the Bluesbunny CD player and set about its mission.
What would that mission be? Well, it certainly wasn’t to steal your wallet or your heart for this is an album that seeks to impress by stealth and it guides the listener through a landscape of emotion. “Makeshift Blinds” opens proceedings in a manner reminiscent of deeply thoughtful shoegaze before the tone lightens and the band’s resolve strengthens with the entrancing – and quite commercial - “Robin”. A big part of this band’s charm is clearly going to be their way of sitting soundscapes atop driving beats with vocals being used as a means of lightening the overall tone with further proof provided by songs like the title track and “End Film”. The star turn on the album, however, turned out to be ”Took It” that took a more direct approach like some hybrid of Scritti Politti and U2.
“Snow In June” is an intelligent and well constructed album that mixes emotional intensity and melody to good effect. Perhaps not one for playing in the car but plenty good enough for those dark winter nights.