Some fine tribal drumming Marion Andrau gets the ball rolling on 'The Strike', the opening track of Electa, album number two from The Wharves. The strong vocal harmonies and ringing guitars you'll know from their previous efforts are once more there in spades but they've built on them, even since last year's 'Naz' single. There's seemingly more of everything as evinced on the acid folk of 'L'autre' alongside the weightier, '90s guitar parts strewn elsewhere amongst the dozen tracks.

If, like me you found the recent Teenage Fanclub album to be dull and disappointing then Electa should go some way to improving your mood, sounding as it often does like a female version of the older band's better, younger output. Elsewhere Miranda Sex Garden come readily to mind due to those sweet, intertwining vocals and the gothic undercurrent that is never far from the surface, such as on fifth song 'Venus Of Hornchurch'.

'Sweet Merry Time' lets things down slightly as the vocals at times found a bit off and the general thumping along of the tune feels rather formulaic and not on the same level as the other songs on offer but it's a drop in form easily forgotten as the album moves on to 'Well Well Well'.

Employing the talents of the twenty voices of the Rebel Choir on final track 'My Will' further shows off the greater breadth of sound the band have decided to explore on Electa and proves a great showcase for their own versatility with Gemma Fleet moving from bass to guitar duties. Experimentation in rock is alive and well & comfortably existing with The Wharves right now.  

Electa is available from amazon & iTunes.