ANIMAL KINGDOM Signs And Wonders (2009 UK 12-track CD album - Recorded at Seattle's Electrokitty Studios with Phil Ek [Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Les Savy Fav], this melancholy debut album finds the London quartet countering immediate pop hooks with unpredictable arrangements and a dark, reflective soul. Developed over a six week period, 'Signs And Wonders' includes the delicately crafted, emotive pop of the debut single 'Chalk Stars', the dreamy, infectious hook that gives the lovelorn 'Tin Man' an otherworldly atmosphere and the eerie flow of 'Two By Two' that features Sauberlich's vocals floating in the ether like the voice of an imaginary friend. The album is also rich on versatility; the likes of 'Good Morning', 'Silence Summons You' and 'Into The Sea' share a cohesive, cinematic atmosphere but each song represents a unique statement. Animal Kingdom could be loosely compared to the likes of Mercury Rev, The Cure, The Flaming Lips, Smashing Pumpkins and Grandaddy, but they remain a proposition in which their own individual sound shines through).