Enthused indie-rockers GLASS PEAKS are onto their second release ‘Speak and Spell’, following debut ‘Your Eyes’, and with the likelihood that this Kent foursome are set to break out of their county boundaries very soon. ‘Speak and Spell’ pertains a certain romantic rawness inspired by forebears like The Smiths and Joy Division, but it’s their clean melodies that bring to mind The Maccabees, and yet the grumbling bass and impassioned progression could be compared to Foals. This band wholeheartedly belong to the alternative rock scene (just listen to that jam from 2:40) - but it’s not all noise. The group deftly work their way through schemes like math-rock in the methodical patterning, sci-fi-pop occurring through those intermittent synthetic keys and even a little melancholic dream-pop thanks to the bright guitar picking. What ties it all together is their superb energy, one cultivated over a year of touring in 2016, with a future of more songs, gigs and festival slots to keep the momentum up. - HT