Shiny Happy Records Split Tape Review: Suncharms and Mirror Lakes

By Ian Smith

This is a ‘split-tape’ release from Shiny Happy Records.

The Suncharms begin with ‘Monster Club’, which has a ‘60’s beat-pop feel. All is present and correct and the guitars jangle around Marcus’ playful vocal. The song is sandwiched by a squeaking door. A beginning and an end. ‘Cosmonaut’ is sparse, with gentle picked guitars. Think McCarthy or The Pastels. The track is interspersed with a buzzing guitar solo which breaks into all-out fuzz as the song develops.

‘Reflection’ is the final track from Sheffield’s finest, starting as a gentle acoustic melody which combines the C86 sound with something approaching a rock ballad. There is a feeling of melancholy and even some Zeppelin-esque touches to finish. With several tracks released of late, surely the long-awaited debut long-player will soon be upon us.

​The Mirrorlakes take over on side 2, with a sound firmly intrenched in shoegaze with a jangle-pop topping. ‘Three Song’ recalls late-80’s British Indie acts long-forgotten, a hazy mid-tempo toe-tapper. ‘Kosong’ is the standout, the band creating a plodding feel which at times made me think of Pavement. The release is completed by ‘Untitle’, guitars stand alone for this instrumental (but no lead-guitar wankery. No sir, not likely).

This is a rather charming little release.

Out now on Shiny Happy Records: https://shinyhappyrecs.bandcamp.com/album/a-split-tape-the-suncharms-mirrorlakes