There are only so many ways of describing something as ‘summery’. This makes reviewing Crystal Fighters’ upcoming release Cave Rave somewhat difficult; from start to finish, Cave Rave sounds like the soundtrack to a holiday-inspired cider advert. Whilst this is meant in some ways as a compliment – the album is undeniably atmospheric, romantic, at times blissful – it also sums up the pitfalls of an album that makes for serene listening but at times feels disposable.

It is hard to pinpoint exactly why Cave Rave fails to leave a lasting impression. Songs like ‘LA Calling’, ‘No Man’, and ‘You & I’ are genuinely uplifting, feel-good anthems, folk-based songs bursting with Hispanic, even African influence. This is typical of much of the album’s sound; indeed, Cave Rave is in some ways a slightly misleading title, the album conjures up images of hillside campfires rather than strobe lights, and is in fact generally fairly light on bass.  This sound is where the album’s real strength lies: make no mistake about the ability of Crystal Fighters to craft effortlessly idyllic choruses, some of which seem set to become the defining sounds of the festival season.

Where the album perhaps unexpectedly falls down is in the more beat orientated tracks. Given that arguably their most recognisable songs before this second album – ‘Xtatic Truth’, ‘I Love London’ –   have been full sounding, bass heavy, it is striking how hollow tracks like ‘Wave’ and ‘Separator’ play out. Whilst the groundwork firmly seems in place for these more electronic to sound truly anthemic, the production lets them down – they sound tinny, like demos rather than the finished product. It will be interesting to see how these translate into live performances – I suspect the album versions do not do them justice.

With lyrics like “When I look at you/ Oh I feel my heart/ Oh I feel real love inside” (‘Love Natural), and “One life live free/ Big dreams we’re all about ‘em” ( ‘You & I), Cave Rave often treads dangerously close to cliché. Aside though, from the overly pining ‘Bridge of Bones’ which croons rather insipidly, Crystal Fighters manage to sound sincere, endearing rather than soppy.  As the album draws to a close, however, Crystal Fighters adopt a more contemplative tone. Minor chords delicately compliment pensive lyrics – “We think we’re changing with the moon and the sun/ And we’ve been holding back way too long” (‘These Nights’) – that allude to life on the road and being caught up in the moment. The sense of reflection is surprisingly powerful, ironically leaving the most lasting impression in an otherwise ephemeral album.

Cave Rave is an album for the summer, and in that sense it is a perfectly accomplished release. With some real standout tracks and an infectious positivity, it makes for a really pleasant listen. Despite, (or perhaps even because of) this, however, it lacks the repeat listening value of the first album, at times feeling slightly one-dimensional.