LA duo Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno might sound like the perfect distillation of the Californian dream – lo-fi surf guitars and 60s girl-group vocals complementing increasingly overt references to the Golden State – yet what sets them apart is the undercurrent of melancholia in Cosentino’s lyrics. Their third album is another impressive set, heartbreak ballads (Fading Fast, Wasted Time) sitting comfortably alongside more strident fare, the thrashy Heaven Sent catching Cosentino in lovestruck mode. If there’s a criticism it’s that their is a sound that works best in short bursts, something that becomes all too evident as the expendable title track enters its sixth minute.
• This article was amended on 6 May, with “Sunshine State” (Florida’s nickname) corrected to “Golden State” (California’s)
