Ellen And The Escapades, All The Crooked Scenes (Branch Out Records) ****; The Dunwells, Blind Sighted Faith (Playing In Traffic) *** (From York Press)

Ellen And The Escapades, All The Crooked Scenes (Branch Out Records) ****; The Dunwells, Blind Sighted Faith (Playing In Traffic) ***

10:09am Friday 13th April 2012 in CD reviews By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

LEEDS five-piece Ellen And The Escapades mix folk, pop and catchy rhythms. All The Crooked Scenes is a great ride, with Ellen Smith’s throaty vocals blending perfectly with slower numbers, as in opener Run, or faster, fun tracks such as Without You, reminiscent of a folky Can’t Stand Me Now by The Libertines.

Occasionally, the mood drops, and tracks can sound a little generic, as with I’ll Keep You Warm, and the title track sounds as if it’s a discarded Mumford & Sons album track – still brilliant, just impossible not to notice the similarities – while Preying On Your Mind is a barnstormer.

Fellow Leeds band The Dunwells are starting to take off, with this latest album recorded and produced in Texas. Blending a Nashville sound with Yorkshire vocals, Blind Sighted Faith features 12 tracks, four of which are updated versions of older songs. The older ones stand out, with Elizabeth and Goodnight My City not benefiting from the new sound, but still great tunes.

The band haven’t lost their knack for songs that make you feel something, but they could do better.

• Ellen And The Escapades play Leeds Brudenell Social Club on Sunday