While everyone over here in the UK is getting concerned about whether their fringe is floppy enough, and how long their belt is, our friends from over the Atlantic have been sneaking up on us, and beating us at being indie. First came albums by The Dears, The Arcade Fire and The Silent League, Ambulance LTD are set to join that collection. These are the albums that won't take just one listen to understand, but to fully appreciate them requires repeated listens. However they will be far more rewarding in the long run than 45 minutes of pop songs.

Ambulance LTD unravels itself slowly. The first track is a purely instrumental introduction, leading onto a few not very remarkble songs. Sudddently some lush songs emerges from the unremarkable tracks. The first time it occurs is at Heavy Lifting, where verse by verse, the track builds on itself with a gorgeous arrangement and harmonies, before just floating off into the stillness.

There are also tracks where it meanders a bit, the band not really knowing quite where to turn. Should they hold back the melodies, and just jam for a bit to retain their edginess, or dare they bring out the songs? Tracks like Stay Where You Are and Sugar Pill. If these tracks were given the chance to develop fully, they too could have been great songs.

But luckily Stay Tuned comes to rescue us. Just a 3 minute ditty to show that, yes!, Ambulance LTD still have some melodies within them.

A good comparision would be with the Doves albums. There are two or three standout tracks, that just hint at what they can really be capable of, but eventually, with enough work, the other tracks on the album will win you over too.