Not Real is the much-anticipated second album by Stealing Sheep, written, recorded and produced by band members Becky Hawley, Emily Lansley and Lucy Mercer at their studio in Liverpool. The unifying theme of the new album is the interplay of fact and fiction; the edge of dreams and limits of reality. These visions are grounded by bright melodies and insistent beats and unified by vocal harmonies; sometimes metronomic and chant-like, sometimes choral and pop...

Drawing heavily on the electro-pop era of '80s music, Stealing Sheep's new album represents a bizarre trip into an alternate '80s bubble. The end results are both unsettling and comforting. There are also a number of tracks that dip into the '90s, including 'Not Real' and 'Greed'.

Not Real contains 10 tracks (34 min 43 sec) and, if you're of a certain age, you'll be convinced you've heard some of these tracks before - even though it's obvious that you haven't.

It's an interesting album that you'll be playing for some time to come.

8

Nick Smithson