High Tea

What difficult second album? The various band members of the Britannicas hit that hump years ago with their previous projects, like a good wine, they're just getting better. The Britannicas are Herb Eimerman (solo, Nerk Twins - USA), Magnus Karlsson (happydeadmen, the Charade - SWEDEN) and Joe Algeri (Jack & the Beanstalk, the JAC - AUSTRALIA). The lads are separated by thousands of miles of ocean but they use modern technology to make old-school pop music. The 2010 self-titled album drew critical acclaim and just plain amazement within the indie and power-pop scenes around the world; how can something supposedly so disjointed sound so cohesive and melodic? Their secret is still more instinctive feel rather than science; Herb is the bottom, the soul and the harmony of the band, Magnus is the twee and the twang in the middle, and Joe brings the soft and hard edges to the mix and completes this crazy sonic experiment. This time around they are also joined by another talented Swede on drums, Stefan Johansson (the Lemon Clocks, Yesterday Girl Records). So can we expect more of the same on the second long-player? No, High Tea is better - more organic, more melodic, sweeter, brighter, louder - built on a palette of amazing guitar tones and rich vocal harmonies. High Tea opens with the band's recent, effervescent Got A Hold On Me single. In addition we get all the tracks from the 3 Sided Single, remixed and remastered. All up there are 12 originals plus their wondrous cover of Del Shannon's I Got You from the recent tribute compilation.