Q, February 2002
Departure Lounge 'Too Late To Die Young' (Bella Union)

Departure Lounge accidentally formed four years ago in London when the members, who gathered regularly to just, like, jam realised they had just, like, become a band. Having released their debut album to acclaim but few sales they - of course - relocated to a bar in Nashville, Tennessee where they spent much of 2001. But Departure Lounge are no alt-country bandwagon jumpers, rather a sparkling "indie" band whose delicately layered songs recall Spiritualized without the kitchen sink arrangements or even a reflective Dandy Warhols without the cynicism. Straight Line To The Kerb, What You Have Is Good, Be Good To Yourself and single King Kong Frown all shimmer with invention and tasteful flourishes that could see them trouncing Doves at their own game. (****)
Andy Fyfe