I probably should have noticed that there had been an album released by Glasgow’s 2Storeys before now for, from previous experience, they were obviously an album band. So, without further ado, what is to be said about “Vertical”?
For a start, at least for those who have seen 2Storeys live, there are few surprises here. Always laidback, these eight songs make for a respectable late night soundtrack as the band drifts between jazz funk and Moloko style easy going electro although vocalist Angie Grey is rather more Sophie Ellis-Bextor than Róisín Murphy. Not a particularly bad thing to be of course but, even for someone more exalted, it would have been a struggle to bring life to the frankly rather dull lyrics. Then again, I don’t suppose that the words are as important as the mood and, in that, the standard of musicianship shines through all the songs with “Promise” and “Call Me” being the best examples of the mellow grooving power of this band.
So, if it has got to that time of the week when you have to slow it down then “Vertical” might well be the album and 2Storeys might just be the band to help you with that task.