This is Oxford band Fracture‘s first EP; three tracks of solid and straightforward indie rock with subtle nods in a few different directions. These are relatively serious-sounding songs, with heart-on-sleeve vocals over melodic guitar patterns. As it may not be fair to expect that a band has a totally unique sound by the point of their first release, the fact that these tracks sound as if they’re still looking to find their place in the world is not necessarily a problem.

‘Stand In Line’ introduces itself by way of a quiet intro, before launching into a mid-pace take on a Bunnymen-esque piece of sheen, with spritely call-and-response melodies, a well-balanced mix and vocals that have something of the Springsteen-lite about them. ‘So Cold’ is, to use local music as a reference point, a bit more Scholars-like: stop-start rhythms stringing together a multi-layered melange of a tune. ‘Tonight’ takes things in a lighter, more pleasing direction – it’s almost jaunty in its sound, with good-natured guitar lines and skipping beats aplenty.

Not a bad first release, at least in terms the attention that Fracture seem to be paying to the details. If they are looking for their sound, maybe it lies in the poppier style of ‘Tonight’? It’s often more tricky to sound positive and cheerful than it is to ramp up the noise, echo and misery. It is, of course, in their hands.

No Control is available from iTunes. The band’s Facebook page is here.