The Tubs: Cotton Crown (digital outlets)

This London-based Welsh band come off as a smart marriage of REM's indie.rock jangle, slightly yobby British post-punk pop and a revved up version of Scotland's Proclaimers.

In other words, they make smart and memorable folksy power-pop. And there's a real sense of desperation in places (the nervy Illusion, the Pogues-punky Chain Reaction).

Singer Owen Williams has some of Richard Thompson's emotional delivery (Narcissist) and he rides these fiery songs with confidence (Embarrassing).

And Strange, right at the end, is Williams' account of trying to deal with the aftermath of his mother's suicide: “Sometimes when everyone’s high, they ask me what it’s like. If I’m alright I say it makes me more interesting. Then we laugh and then it’s all fine. 
How strange I have been . . .”

That's her on the cover, breastfeeding him in a graveyard.

This is the Tubs' second album and with any luck it will take them to something larger than their current cult status.

Recommended.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here