Tough Love レコード& CD

Review: RECOMMENDED
We're struggling for many ways to describe Free Advice, aside from 'a genuinely wonderful listen'. The second record from San Francisco-based gems Cindy, it's an outing that remains understated from beginning to end, and yet somehow manages to deliver gritty, gruelling rock 'n' roll, euphoric day-tripping anthems, honest love songs and more.

At the most sedate, 'Seeing Double' sounds like it could almost frighten itself, a cute but damaged, delicate and loose arrangement. 'Wrong Answer' is more like a slap in the face but through a wall of static, fuzzy guitars and a thick layer of white noise helping keep what could be a runaway train in check. Just about. 'Fixed Idea' is bound to make you feel like there's still so much hope to cling to, and is among the most quietly empowering things to sound a bit like Velvet Underground we've had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time.