Softly, Softly

The Hosts are from Sheffield and consist of Tom Hogg (vocals, guitar), Jim Fisher (keyboards), Jamie Shipley (guitar), David Glover (bass) and Adam Crofts (drums).  In their world no chorus can be big enough. No sentiment can be bittersweet enough. No emotion can be a deep enough shade of blue. All of which befits a band whose wall-of-soundscape has been known to take in Buddy Holly, Phil Spector, The Velvet Underground, The Beach Boys and Jonathan Fire*Eater. Tellingly, 'Softly, Softly' is released on the week of Valentine's Day, for as the band themselves say: "With its euphoric highs and sentimental lows 'Softly, Softly' paints a picture of modern romance in vivid Technocolour. It is a journey that mirrors the band's own highs and lows and one which finds them waiting, now ready to catch their monkey." Earlier in 2013 the quintet tickled the underbelly of the mainstream beast with 'September Song' (a selfie release) and 'Give Your Love To Her' (on Label Fandango), two raffish slabs of retro alt.pop which represented the missing link between Roy Orbison and Richard Hawley and which waltzed all over BBC 6 Music and Radio 2. Verily, these people know their green onions.