Groundbird is North Shields’ singer/songwriter Richard O’Brien – together here with producer Martin Francis Trollope and multi-instrumentalist Mateus Borges – and their debut album is a lo-fi delight. Much of its charm comes from O’Brien’s arresting lyrics (“I got cancelled at 12 on the Pokemon message board…”) and the original subject matters he tackles (check out the tracks: ‘Two Swingers (In A Room Above A Little Chef)’ and ‘Cooking For Gregg Wallace’). From sparse balladry (‘Petition Pit’) to tracks that get a wiggle on (‘Flapper Skate’) there’s plenty to enchant here. GM

Out 26 August, self release