For anyone left cold by the recent glut of flaccid and unremarkable bands blocking up the veins of the UK indie scene, (I’ll name no names here, but go look at a copy of NME and open a page at random,) ‘We Were Ghosts’ is a truly refreshing listen. Hailing from the hotbed of musical talent that is Brighton, Telegraphs create little revolutionary, but that is utterly beside the point, as their touchingly melodious and earnest blasts of punk informed indie/pop rock are simply really good, well written songs, a quality that defies every fleeting trend that you care to think of.

From catchy and direct pop tracks such as ‘we dance in slow motion’ to atmospheric instrumentals and existential meditations, (‘Drop D Not Bombs, ‘What’s so good about goodbye?’) these 11 tracks are surprisingly varied. In Darcy Harrison Telegraphs have a compelling frontman, and when he and Bassist/vocalist Hattie Williams merge their vocals, as on standout track ‘I don’t navigate by you,’ the album really excels. Polished without sounding sanitised or contrived, the quintet have built on the promise shown on their earlier EP to create something both memorable and immediate, no mean feat.

With lyrical concerns darker and more intriguing than the majority of their contemporaries, covering topics from relationships to surveillance society, and showing a high standard of musicianship throughout, it’s difficult to fault ‘We Were Ghosts.’ While it does incorporate many more heavy rock elements than (insert generic indie band here) it’s unlikely to convert those too blinkered to give it a chance, but that’s an observation, not a criticism. In all honesty I’m determined to catch them live, and ultimately I can’t give more recommendation than that.

Rating Out of 10: