Since changing their name to English Teacher, it’s been a steady upward climb for the band. Critically acclaimed singles, TV appearances, ecstatic magazine write-ups, with it all culminating this year when the band that formed in Leeds won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas. A melodic guitar from Lewis Whiting opens the album on “Albatross” as Lily Fontaine sings, “I stared at the sun and she stared right back”.
By now, half of the album has been released as singles. “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab” has a menacing bass from Nicholas Eden before the chorus goes full widescreen, reminiscent of the best moments from Wolf Alice. “Mastermind Specialism” is a quieter ballad with colourful imagery and a nice piano line, where the music swells in the outro and the second verse gets repeated. “Nearly Daffodils” adds a harder edge to the art rock sound while the title track has a memorable lyrical hook where the “country is in a bad state”.
Throughout the album produced by Marta Salogni, each band member contributes greatly including Douglas Frost playing drums and adding a significant amount of piano. The musicality is amped up by the lyrics of Fontaine who seems to weave magic in every song. The lyrical twist of “The Best Tears of Your Life” + the anthem of “R&B” where she delivers the staggering line, “I haven’t got the voice for R&B even though I’ve seen more colour shows than KEXPs”. Even though it’s early days, This Could Be Texas already feels like it’s destined to be a classic debut album.
9/10
The Light Appears 
I’m a fan of Wolf Alice and do hear some of them in the song you featured here, Michael, especially in the vocal melodies. Thanks for introducing me to English Teacher’s music.