sun008 - The Yam Yams : At Home With... 

Growing up in the village of Perton, just outside Wolverhampton, Caroline Lowbridge and Tim Howells, formed The Yam Yams when they went to University in Bournemouth. They started off doing Northern Soul covers before writing their own material. With a minimal setup of vocals, guitars (Tim) and drums (Caroline) the inevitable comparisons between the White Stripes will occur. However their approach is different. The Yam Yams have their own blend of folk tinged, straight talking, downbeat melodic pop. Lack of players or instruments doesn't necessary mean a raw sound.

Having played The Hope and Anchor and a Fierce Panda night at the Heavenly Social in London they are gradually getting the attention they deserve.

At Home With are four tracks recorded this and last year. First up is Sea Song, played on a ship coming out of a tunnel that opens out onto the pier - use your imagination. Anyway it's so simple, works wonderfully, you wonder why you didn't write the melody yourself! Cry delves into Americana, a beautiful stroll down a heartfelt lane but with none of your usual excess sentiment. On the other side Blue Eyes, Skies and Sea is the most upbeat song on the EP but listen carefully to the lyrics. The Yam Yams are not miserable; the hope comes in the vocals. Take Me Down gently rocks the EP home with a slight nod to the sound of The White Stripes. And it's all over too soon.

Not afraid to refine and change their sound and with even greater things expected from them in the coming future, The Yam Yams show that less can be so much more.

• The Yam Yams