The thundering and tumultuous pop-rock of Lightguides (facebook/twitter) has been described variously as simply “Scottish rock” after the successes of bands such Biffy Clyro or personal favourites of mine We Were Promised Jetpacks. It is definitely not samba.

But Lightguides are not just the product of their contemporaries and influences, as they manage to stray away through clever variations in time signature and song structures a little bizarre at times – all of which adding to their musical charm.

I’m never quite sure if I want to sing along to the pop-esque sections such as offered on The Arts Factory, stand in the rain and let W.H.Y.L run over me, or just get into the sweat of the mosh pit on sections of Colonel Crookshanks. Never is the listener given a chance to fall into any of these though, as Lightguides switch it up and drag you into another dimension.

The mini-album (it’s just 7 songs and 28 minutes) is held together by its variations. Each song somehow effortlessly taking you on a journey for which a lesser band would have devoted a whole EP. Not Lightguides though, they’ll squeeze it into four minutes and take you even further.

Samba Samba Samba is out now on the ever delightful Alcopop! Records.

[BUY] Lightguides – Samba Samba Samba on CD or MP3

Lightguides – WarHorse
Lightguides – The Arts Factory
Lightguides – Colonel Crookshanks
Lightguides – Old Bucket Seats
Lightguides – Bachelor Death Party
Lightguides – Starboard Superhero
Lightguides – W.H.Y.L.