Not Many Experts

Last year Aussie duo Manor gave us the urgent, heart-wrought indie pop of ‘Rhodesia’. I liked it so much that I instantly became suspicious that they were covertly attempting to trick me, and tried my best to ignore it. Now they have released the equally sumptious cut, ‘Afghan Hound’, and I’m proud to report that they have sufficiently proved that they cannot be a trick; they’re bona-fide talents in the very appealing hazy-indie-played-by-duos mould. Think Beach House, but with songs that sound slightly different. And if that doesn’t sound exciting, get a load of this; ‘Afghan Hound’ was mixed in Brooklyn by the bloke who has fiddled with Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors! That’s right, Manor are officially cool. But occasionally it is good to let the music get in the way of that, and in Manor’s case, the duo of ‘Rhodesia’ and ‘Afghan Hound’ are sounding like two of the most fully-formed and instantly loveable introductions to a new band for many a month.