8/10

When Liverpool's Courting released their breakthrough debut LP 'Guitar Music' in 2022, it was seen as one of the more inventive additions to the growing indie-rock scene of the last few years. Delivering a fresh spin on the more traditional tropes associated with the genre, they found themselves aloft as one of the more impactful names emerging that year. Now looking to double down on their positive ascent, they return with their sophomore studio album 'New Last Name', a record that continues those vibrant ambitions.

From the very start, 'New Last Name' looks to continue the reputation of its predecessor. Bringing back more of that fun and lively energy they have been curating recently, matched with some brilliantly inventive aesthetics from start to finish, this new collection sees them return to the fold in fine form throughout, building upon what was already an extremely impressive catalogue so far.

Given how much their first full-length contributed to their success of late, it comes as a welcome relief to hear 'New Last Name' is still managing to hold onto that infectious sound from start to finish. So many seem to stumble at this point in their careers, but Courting are proving a shining example of the UK's current indie-rock arena.