Is it banal to say that given a few more breaks you might already have heard of The Cellophane Flowers? After all most half-talented bands are but one dirty weekend with Simon Cowell away from fame. And yet witness the debut EP from The Cellophane Flowers. It is by no means a consistent artistic statement or demonstration of prowess. Rather, like the Pixies before them, the EP format is used as a means for the band to present evidence of their talent and potential. If I Was A Girl is less an EP and more a musical CV.

The Cellophane Flowers are at heart a pop band, they like big, catchy, repetitive choruses with sing-along lyrics that take up the better part of their three-minute hook-filled songs. In the course of five brief songs they echo a number touchstones from the last three decades of indie-rock. Opening track ‘Yes I Am’ demonstrates a command of The Pixies’ dynamics, ‘It Was A Beautiful Lie’ would not sound out of place with vocals by Morrissey, ‘If I Was A Girl’ has a bridge that is a intriguing mixture of Shins and No Doubt (thinking ‘Kissing the Lipless’ meets ‘Underneath It All’).

Soft and mellifluous but often completely indecipherable, Francesca Corradini’s voice is undeniably the bands greatest asset and greatest handicap. Corradini’s voice is incredible, captivating, and always perfectly on-key, and one can imagine that in her native Italian it must be flawless. Unfortunately after a number of listens I remain non-the-wiser as to what Corradini is actually saying for at least half the duration of the EP. Which is a shame, because these catchy tunes demand that the listener sing along.

Incoherent vocals are one reason to view If I Was A Girl as a statement of intent rather than a final product. In the course of five songs, from which it would difficult to select a standout track, or a weak track, the band make a strong case for the industry and listeners alike to take notice. With a little bit more time, and the influence of a capable producer, The Cellophane Flowers could release a gem of a debut album that matches the promise of their debut.