9/10
Throughout the past year, we have seen Birmingham's Little Juke moving from strength to strength. Drip-feeding us a warm and immersive array of singles across the months gone by, they have quickly earned a reputation as one of the more exciting names on the rise, bringing a sense of warmth and grandeur to the indie-rock world. And with their profile on the scene growing bigger by the day, they now look to cement their dynamic legacy to date with their eagerly-awaited debut album 'Departures From The States Of Mind', a collection that finds them in an anthemic guise throughout.
Opening up with the previously unveiled gem 'Down The Rabbit Hole', this new ten-track offering highlights exactly why so many have been flocking to them in recent times. Creating this broad and sprawling aesthetic that goes hand-in-hand with a shimmering approach to both production and instrumentation, 'Departures From The States Of Mind' continues to establish them as a truly wondrous force emerging right now. Bringing this otherworldly aura to almost everything they create, their first full-length looks to make a long and lasting impression with everything it does.
It may still be early days for their career right now, but with a musical proficiency this strong already, Little Juke are moving in a higher regard than most we see coming out of the UK's music scene. Doubling down on those euphoric ideals at every opportunity, 'Departures From The States Of Mind' is a strong and commanding introduction to a band with the world at their feet.