by Philip Moss

County Line Runner’s Adam Day may hail from the East Sussex coastal town of Brighton, but – on this cinematic debut EP – his heart is clearly based in the North West of England and the heartlands of America.

Opener, Ballad of The Land Shark, carries the knowing croon of Bunnymen leader, Ian McCulloch, while referencing the guitars of their contemporaries from down the A580, New Order. While Day’s lyrical grounding is in the relationships that mark everyday life. His bleary eyed honesty is  relatable, but, most crucially, feels real.- grabbing you by the scruff of the neck.

Cold Dawn shows signs that it could erupt, but follows the Darkness on the Edge of Town blueprint – providing a teasing set up for the collection’s truly glorious, most affecting and instantaneous moment, Saw You In A Dream, which soars on an Adam Granduciel inspired soundscape.

Produced by Bill Ryder Jones at his Wirral based Yawn Studios, the EP comes to its conclusion with a live, piano based cut, Like a Love Poem to a Player, which shows another side to Day – unleashing the inner Leonard Cohen. A wonderful debut. Roll on the long player.

Secret Meeting score: 80

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