English rock band, The History of Apple Pie are to release their second album Feel Something at the end of this month on Marshal Teller Records. Following last year’s release Out of View, this album is also produced and engineered by the band’s guitarist Jerome Watson with engineering by Joshua Third of The Horrors as well as Charles Reeves. Made up of songwriters Stephanie Min on vocals and of course, producer Jerome Watson on guitar, the band also sees James Thomas on drums, Aslam Ghauri on guitar and the newest addition – Joanna Curwood on bass.

With cymbal smashes and guitar chords galore “Come Undone” opens Feel Something with a bang, whilst Min’s vocals add a softer element to the track. “Tame” sees a similar feminine punctuation of a classic indie sound. Min’s vocals compliment the piano melodies; “no I don’t go either way, cos I’m tame”. A fuzzier, more nineties sounding track “Keep Wondering” follows and is, in the beginning, so low fi that it’s like the song has been submerged underwater for a few moments. The rest of the track has a rocked up Belle and Sebastian vibe.

“Special Girl” is synthier and more off kilter whilst “Puzzles” has a fuzzy edge. “Don’t You Wanna Be Mine?” jangles rhythmically and is very catchy. “Ordinary Boy” and “Snowball” are the more rock inspired tracks on the release with electric guitar and more sweeter than candy vocals from Min in the latter; “climbing up the neighbours tree, I saw you smiling back at me, find another place to hide, you know me I wanna lie”.

Closing track “Just Like This” is the most experimental sounding of Feel Something, whilst also acting as a sort of finishing anthem too. Its certainly one of the more catchy songs and sounds like nineties shoe gaze with hint of a rock make-over. The History of Apple Pie’s British jangle pop is all over their second album Feel Something that, whilst not being the most innovative of releases, is always consistent. Sometimes shoe-gazey and sometimes jangle rock but always sweet and full of heartache.

http://www.marshalltellerrecords.com/

Reviewed by Heather Welsh.