The Sound of Leamington Spa

If his first album, Table for One, told of the everyday struggle to hold down a decent adult relationship, this album dares to explore the wider landscape of love, taking in a few agony page tales along the way. As ever, Darren delves in and out of the minds of loved up and disappointed characters, including a faithful teacher (Art and Design) and an out-of-sorts young woman (Rochelle).

No One Gets The Prize - Diana Ross
Total Panic - The Human League

Yet, at the same time, a sort of homey contentment settles over the record; She’s Not for Me is certain in its rejection of a flaky type of girl and Apologise is honest about failure to do washing up, while Let’s Go Stealing surprisingly steers clear of love altogether and instead celebrates the joy of borrowing words from books and songs. The album is also a welcome return to the folk pop sound which characterised many of Hefner’s earlier songs, and proof that a fondness for both ukeleles and synthesisers is not fundamentally incompatible.

Kriminal Theme - Les Maledictus Sound

Darren is currently touring the UK, and at the Kilburn Luminaire (Monday November 12th, 2007) he roped in a folk-artillery of a banjo, ukulele and violin, with just himself and a friend from The Wave Pictures on guitar.

No Control - New Tellers

Alternative rock and shoegazing may also be written about