I love unexpected treats. Well I suppose everyone does , but how many would view Lost City Folk the debut album by City Reverb as an unexpected treat? Well anyone in their right mind would. It's great. City Reverb is a band fronted by Chris Coco, Micky Buccheri and Audrey Nugent. Coco, D.J., producer and musician calls the music of City Reverb "Robot Soul" which is a pretty good description all things considered. Using influences like New Order, Kraftwerk and Velvet Underground the band created an alluring synthesis of electronic pop, synthesized soul and low key dance with odd little stylistic quirks thrown in for good measure. What do I mean by that? Well on the pulsing electro funk "Central Heating " a hoary great guitar riff suddenly hove's into view like a bellowing grizzly on the dance floor at Stringfellows. There's some oddly out of tune trumpet too. "Star Power" develops round a lilting piano and sibilant percussion then goes all rock solo for the last third . "Ghetto Glamour " is like The Pet Shop Boys remixed by One Dove, a lovely somnambulant fusion. The luxurious down tempo strains of "Everything Will Be Alright" and the regimented catchiness of "Time Side On" are terrific as well. "Seventy Three" ( complete with lyrical leg up from Stephen Duffy) is a warm harmonious wallow in nostalgia- a more straight up version of Denim .Its the little incremental details of the songs that make Lost City Folk such an indulgence."Pinsharp" cuts across it's syncopated percussion with eerie keyboards, peculiar bleeps and barfs and what sounds like treated brass. "The Drinking Song" is a surprisingly affecting ballad. "Hedonist" has a keyboard refrain over pitter patter rhythms so irresistible I find myself whistling it at the most inopportune moments. Like on my bike when I'm pulling up a big hill and seriously out of breath. Not a good idea. The vocals are nothing to write home ,or indeed anywhere else ,about and one or two songs are a bit ...well dull I suppose but overall Lost City Folk is like I said a true treat. I bought this album on a whim and unlike a lot of my recent choices it was an inspired decision. "Soon this song will break your heart " they sing on Time Side On ". Not true much on this album will make your heart swell with joy.