Allo Darlin'

The superbly jangly "Northern Lights" is the third single to be taken from Allo Darlin's second album Europe, which was released on Slumberland Records in May. Written about a New Year's Eve spent in Sweden the song somehow manages to imbue a wintery scene with a sweet breath of sunshine as Elizabeth Morris' voice rings out clear as a bell and Paul Rain's guitar melodies shine brightly.

It's backed by "Golden Age," a B-side which seems to exist simply to prove that Allo Darlin' have super-catchy melodic pop gems to burn. In any other band's hands this might be a single rather than tucked away as the flip of the third single from the album, but then it's this kind of willful perversity that makes Allo Darlin' so very special.

The London-based four-piece - led by ukulele-toting Australian songbird Elizabeth Morris, with guitarist Paul Rains, Bill Botting on the bass and Michael Collins on drums - create perfect, sophisticated pop gems and know how to put on a joyous, effervescent, fun-filled live show. Achingly personal, incredibly poignant and familiar all at once, Elizabeth Morris' songwriting has deepened and developed since their debut, but they've lost none of their ability to create sophisticated, intelligent pop music with an uplifting, joyous feel.

Their self-titled debut was released to universal acclaim with plaudits including being named No. 2 record of the year by online retailer eMusic and a glowing 1,200 word essay by legendary Go-Between Mr. Robert Forster in the Australian critical magazine, The Monthly. Their follow-up Europe earned them Rough Trade's album of the month for May 2012 and an 8/10 in NME and saw them touring for most of the year, including a successful Stateside run of shows with support from The Wave Pictures, where the album had rave reviews in Pitchfork and in USA Today.