Album review: Chvrches, The Bones Of What You Believe (Virgin)

Blog faves, BBC Sound of 2013 poll, world tour…and the trio hadn't even released an album. Can it live up to the hype?

Nearly. Iain Cook and Martin Doherty deliver tinny beats and hooky synth melodies, plus claustrophobic layers of mechanical surge. Lauren Mayberry has high, icy vocals; the homespun electro/cute-but-chilly voice combo marks Chvrches out as Glasgow’s answer to Purity Ring. Mayberry also recalls Robyn on the super-catchy "Recover" while the joyful "Tether" brings to mind M83. This album shimmers. Big 1980s production and ba-da-boom drum pads are updated with bass wobble and precision percussive snap. That poll was right: Chvrches do sound almost absurdly 2013.