There Is Only You by The Xcerts

For those of you who don't know who The Xcerts are, where have you been!? Murray Mcleod, Jordan Smith and Tom Heron are a three piece rock band from Aberdeen and they are about to hit the big time. In 2009 they released their first album, In The Cold Wind We Smile, which was then followed up by 2010's Scatterbrain. Finally, four years later, the trio have released There Is Only You, and it is most definitely their best album to date.

Not only does it feature the infectious Shaking In The Water and latest single Pop Song, but it also has a couple of treasures on it such as title track, There Is Only You and the urgent sound of Kevin Costner. The album is their most nurtured and perfected yet and the time they have taken creating it has more than paid off. The melodies and connections between songs have been well thought out, yet it all has an effortless feel, like it just naturally fell into place. It's emotional in many ways and what The Xcerts have perfected here is a record that is relatable to anyone and everyone who has ever felt love. There are still hints of the band they were in the previous decade: the sound is still them, but there's more passion coming from Murray's voice, from Jordan's fingertips, from Tom's body. It has it's smaller moments with opener 2.12.12 bringing an Alt-J-esque feel and tracks like this ease into the bigger moments. One such moment is Live Like This which is one of the best songs on the record and there's also Kids On Drugs which is an anthem in its own right. It's just all-round gorgeousness.

There Is Only You is an illustration of why this band are being so hotly tipped as the next big thing. It has everything, and much the way Murray creates a simile about a past love, this album will haunt any listener like a pop song in their head. Go buy it, now.

9/10

Listen to: Live Like This

There Is Only You is available to buy now and you can catch the band touring with the almighty Twin Atlantic across Europe now.