San Franciscan dream merchants follow up their debut Grass Stains and Novocaine with something new, even fresher, an absolute clutch of diamonds in the shape of songs. Lemon Lights is an elevated version of the band, bigger where it counts, more heartfelt where it counts, maybe it all just counts hard.

If previously the band sought to re-cast classic Indie Pop with a sugar-rush of fuzz and chorus on this outing the band have turned everything up several notches. Moving away from the overt 80s influences into something glossier, more melodic, more considered but also, in the way the guitar dynamics are used to crash into the stereo field like a massive hit on the ol’ shoe gaze bong, kind of epic and overwhelming in the emotional field. Seablite have this kind of way of injecting emotion INTO motion, turning a deft melodic phrase or guitar lick into a feeling that grabs yr hand and yanks you out the door into the face of life, rushing headlong into heartache or ecstasy. The influence of the classic 4AD Shoegazin’ pop groups is still rife on Lemon Lights but there’s an economy and succinctness to the songs, each part honed and sharpened for maximum emotional impact. From the harmonised vocal melody on Monochrome Rainbow chiming against the repeated minor key guitar riff to the frankly great Baggy influence in the moping drum patterns, every part of Lemon Lights seems essential and elemental – check the big Stone Roses influence on smasher Hit The Wall (and a vocal melody that has a slight eau de Strawberry Switchblade) for example.

There’s definitely a focus on big Pop sounds and guitar incisiveness but there’s also a gorgeous depth to a track like Orbiting My Sleep, shimmering into a galaxy of dream with an almost somatic pull on the heart, the very organ you can feel dripping out your body on several points on the record, so precise are seablite at tugging at it.