With a cover that pays homage to Black Sabbath’s ‘Vol. 4’, you might expect a blast of metal when you pop this album in your disc-spinner, rather than lo-fi psychedelia-tinged pop rock. It’s a pleasant surprise, as David Sutton takes a Phil Judd–style trip over the course of the album’s A and B sides. The songs are mostly introspective. There’s something of the vibe of Hospital by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers at times, particularly on the song Why, but the overall feel of ‘V’ is still positive – an underlying cheeky cheerfulness. Sutton proves himself an adept musician with a great feel and a willingness to take musical risks. One that pays off nicely is the chorus of Love Is A Crime, switching from the mellow vocal style of the verses, to a soaring, distorted wail. Though his voice isn’t a strength, throughout the album there are some great vocal melodies and some really interesting chord progressions. Almost every instrument was played by Sutton, and played well too. While clearly not made in a fancy studio the sounds are well-recorded and tidily mixed – so it’s ‘V’ for Victory with this captivating album.