From the Alcopop! indie-pop stable, My First Tooth take the right side of the line between twee and authenticity, nostalgia and reflection and folk and Mumford and Sons.

Love Makes Monsters is the follow-up to 2010’s Territories, which featured the gloriously lovely ‘Sleet and Snow’, unequivocally a love song, but with somewhat cryptic lyrics – (is it adorable to liken your partner to freezing cold rain whilst you assume the role of sparkling white powder?) The album marks an extension in the band’s sound, confidence and scope, encompassing more than just a traditional indie/folk/pop sound to give a rich, fulfilling album. Instantly setting them apart from their contemporaries is their use of wider instrumentation: album opener and current single ‘Past Broadcasts’ starting off with chugging guitar before the chorus hits with soaring strings, followed by an expansive middle eight and a final horn-augmented flourish.

‘Hawk in Harness’ sees My First Tooth position themselves alongside stalwarts of this genre, Okkervil River. Ross Witt nails the heartbroken aggression that Will Sheff does so well, tinged with Americana guitars, a footstomping breakdown and thinly-veiled metaphorical lyrics.

Whilst still flexing the highly toned and honed muscles of their three and a half minute pop song, (‘Into the Wild Part 1, ‘Small Crimes’) Love Makes Monsters also takes on some other disciplines, including the string-laden instrumental snippet of ‘Six’ and ‘Nine’, weaved in with the more melancholic ‘The Palace’ and the feature-length, perfectly positive ‘Monsters’,

My First Tooth prove with this album that there is more to them than charming folk-pop. Shifting through moods and sounds, whilst maintaining their cheery, unassuming nature, the band deftly steer away from twee and cutesy– the hint of aggression and unrest in their lyrics, combined with Ross’s growling tinged voice gives an edge to proceedings.

A surprising feast of variety, packaged into a well-rounded album, Love Makes Monsters is a real sit-down-and-listen-to album, from a band exhibiting depths much greater than their pigeonholed sound.