The cover s deadened pastel shades might not jump out from the shelves of your friendly local record shop, but Down Beside Your Beauty marks the debut of a very special talent. Led by singer-songwriter Ken Griffin, Favourite Sons are no strangers to the m

The cover's deadened pastel shades might not jump out from the shelves of your friendly local record shop, but Down Beside Your Beauty marks the debut of a very special talent.

Led by singer-songwriter Ken Griffin, Favourite Sons are no strangers to the music scene.

Griffin's searing, brutally honest songs about the 'big' things (love, regret, religion, fear) which taunt us all, are matched in ambition by the "thunderous, plain beauty" the band imbues them with.

His rich voice - think Edwyn Collins - adds depth to dark truths and confessionals; tales tied to driving drums and bass, running amok through melodramatic melodics.

Seek it out, then quake in its shadow.

4/5