[02.02] Despite their Manchester roots, Alfie differs from the lot of acoustic exports that have recently hit the states. Simple ballads and jingly pop, Alfie is not. A Word in Your Ear is a slow, hazy blend of psychadelic folk laced with shimmering sunshine rock and sporadic bursts of melodic pop. The heart of the music is driven by idyllic harmonies built on layers upon layers of sleepy guitars, cello, warm trumpets, the occasional trombone, and intricate samples strung loosely together by the laid back, nasal drawl of Lee Gorton.

However, this isn't straight-ahead, bubbly sweet pop. There's a dark, somewhat melancholic buzz under the layers of summertime sparkle. While their debut, If You Happy With, You Need Do Nothing, pieced together singles into a full-length, this latest collection paints a fuller picture. Despite an odd jolt with a hip-hop-yo-yo-intro midway through, A Word in Your Ear offers a more cohesive sound that flows rather seamlessly from one song to the next. Standouts like "Me & Mine" (whose base melody sounds as if someone is blowing across the top of a bottle) and "Cloudy Lemondade" radiate with rich textures and carefully infused samples that emanate Alfie's unique style. Pretend you haven't been tainted by this "New Acoustic Movement" label that's slapped onto every band with a UK passport. Listen to A Word in Your Ear with fresh ears. —Aerin