Sunday Times, March 2002
Departure Lounge - Too Late to Die Young (Bella Union)

I could tell you that Departure Lounge spent most of last year playing a residency in a Nashville bar, surrounded by members of Lambchop and watched by the like of Duane Eddy. Or I could tell you that Too Late to Die Young (is it too early to vote the album title of the year?) was produced by Kid Loco. But these morsels of information would steer you in entirely the wrong direction: 'So, it's alt-country meets retro/camp dance music, is it'? No. It's some of the most wonderful, eclectic, optimistic pop music being created at the moment. Straight Line to the Kerb is the song the Pet Shop Boys have been trying to write for the past 10 years; What You Have Is Good features the most absurdly bouncy guitar riff ever played; King Kong Frown is a bluesy rocker; I love You is, as you may have guessed, a sweet love song. Hard to categorise, then, so let's just say that the Lounge approach the majesty of Doves and Elbow, but without being so bloody miserable.
(*** Outstanding)
Mark Edwards