As the nights set in ever earlier, it’s a strange time for NYC surf-rockers The Drums to unleash their debut EP on British shores. However, in terms of sunny enthusiasm and proudly worn West Coast influences, The Drums endear themselves, with the boyishly simple refrain of ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ accompanying buzz-saw guitars and Peter, Bjorn and John-esque whistling to make a charming 1950s pop gem. It’s this retro formula that The Drums frequently return to, with nods to ‘80s shoegaze on the eerie ballad ‘Down By The Water’. As beautiful and heart-wrenching as its reverberating calls of devotion are, these moments are all too rare on a record that feels a little hackneyed at times. Of course, borrowing from yesteryear is an oft-used trick, but on Summertime!, The Drums err on the kitsch side of things.

Tim Wong