This is a beautifully understated record, with a deft Left Banke like lightness of touch, a laidback Byrdsian swagger and a Curt Boettcher sense of wonder.
There are echoes too of modern day contemporaries such as The High Llamas, sandpit reverence on the Beach Boys indebted opening salvo of 'Red Bouquet Fair' and 'Follow Loretta', or a seasoned Teenage Fanclub on the shimmering, sumptuous sunshine pop of 'Esmeranda'.
However The Junipers really come into their own with an array of perfectly executed honey coated harmonies that blend pleasingly with meandering minor chords full of warmth. They demonstrate a Brian Jones like sense of studio curiosity too, raiding a cupboard full of instrumentation to embellish an already rich canvas, skillfully deploying the likes of sitar, harpsichord, mellotron or ukulele whenever the mood dictates. Nigh on perfect!
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