KBPS Review: The Permanent Smilers - One Real Big Identity Crisis

The Permanent Smilers release their debut LP, a 13-track eclectic album of various styles and song-lengths that will keep you guessing about what is coming next.

The album opens with the track 'Identity Crisis' which gives the album its name, a ballsy, punky attitude-filled number that sounds like Paul Weller at his peak. Raw in its production this is a great kick-start to the album thanks to its quick pace and well deserving as the lead track. 'Uh-Oh' is a bit slower but echoes the Beatles at their trippiest best with a catchy chorus and recognisable production and shifts in style. 'You Know Where To Go' is back to the style of the first track with vibes of the Arctic Monkeys and there's plenty of energy over its four minutes.

'Elastic' is much more focussed on its sound rather than its lyrics and it works thanks to the layering of the different sounds and Richard Lemongrass's simple but evocative lyrics. 'Just No Good' is a bit rockier whilst 'It Doesn't Work Anymore' has a bit more punk atttitude again but still boasts that choral hook.

'Ghosts' is the slow swagger number on the album with a smooth, almost-jazz, feel, it's music suggesting an appropriately haunting style. 'Rebel' has an ominous build up into a track that fades a little into the background; whilst Voodoo switches back to the Beatles style of production and is much more fun as a listen.

'You Know Where To Go' is a perky interlude at sub-sixty-seconds as if they wanted to bridge with some guitar but is otherwise a little pointless; the clock-ticking that bookend 'Unforeseen' surround a neat little mid-tempo indie number; with 'See Through You' a little rockier and grittier. Closer 'Sleepyhead' takes childhood imagery and wraps it up in a stripped-back number that wraps the album up neatly.

As the title would suggest the album struggles from cohesiveness in styles but it's never an album that grows tiresome and there's enough love flowing through the production to keep the listener happy. The best tracks are at the beginning, but it never shames itself. (7/10)