All living in the one flat in the Southside of Glasgow (which is now enjoying an overdue renaissance – and it isn’t just the cultural cache of having no subway stops and lower rents), the five members of The Yawns play that specifically Scottish kind of romantic melancholy that many will recognise. The kind that, along with doctors’ dictaphones, is the only thing keeping cassette tapes in demand.

They released their excellent self-titled debut last year (streaming in full from their Bandcamp page (http://theyawnsband.bandcamp.com/music) and available to buy at the barely negligible sum of £3), and it seems 2013 has got to a productive start for The Yawns.

The new single, Full of Admiration (with a timely Valentine’s video), is their best yet. A bouncy Andy Rourke bassline opens up to a spirited jangle jam reminiscent of Real Estate, and singer Sean’s high pitched chorus lets on that his “admiration” is something of a source of anxiety.

The C86 bands, Big Star records and big jumpers are all present, but ineffable charm and clear songwriting gifts make these references all but perfunctory. Their true DIY spirit is reflected in the recordings: all the reverb and far out voices feel like the natural outcome of modest means, rather than a cynical post-production exercise.

They play the Southside’s Glad Café on the 22^nd of February, and Bar Bloc on 5^th of March.

Ian Crichton