The Lights - Teenager of the Century

Lush, involving, well-produced. It could be the tag-line for any band, but somehow, The Lights - set to release their debut album - make these words their own.

There's a considered feeling to every track on Teenager of the Century, a maturity telling of the two years spent putting the record together. And as far as debuts go, The Lights have accomplished a lot - already the likes of the NME are singing their praises.

At the heart of the band's sound lies the voices of Shaun Kelly and Liz Shiels - a pairing that goes together with delicious ease. A good, proper vocal harmony seems so often glossed over or forgotten in much of today's music, but here - particularly in tracks like No Match For Genevieve - it takes centre stage, loud and proud.

Shiels' voice in particular is a shining beacon of heartfelt emotion - We've already seen the likes of The Pierces lead the way for strong female vocals and crafted, traditional melodies this year; The Lights pick up on that lead, seizing it with both hands aloft.

As the album draws to a close we're treated to the exceedingly soothing lullaby-like 18, a slow piano ballad of epic proportions. Again, Shiels' voice is utterly captivating.

What's so brilliant about The Lights is that they at once capture a kind of music lost in the folds of time, but which also feels completely contemporary. There's an essence of turn of the millennium Travis to the melodious, almost music-box-like guitar textures that form the foundations for so many of the tracks.

Equally though, surfacing when you least expect, a real indie-snazziness rears up - full of spark and energy. If The Beautiful South were still around today, bets are on they'd sound a good deal like The Lights.

When it comes to great pop-rock, songs like Sleep Addiction and Mostly Water are the perfect examples of how to do it right. Highly tuneful in every degree, The Lights' debut album is a real statement of quality.

Teenager of the Century is released on the 3rd October.