Autocamper deliver a sincere debut full of jangly charm and heartfelt pop
On their long-awaited debut, the Manchester band channel the nostalgic pop of indie legends and a wealth of memorable melodies into something strikingly their own.
Photo: Press
Autocamper are a group that offer a concise but varied collection of what is old and new: the jangly charm of James Kirk-era Orange Juice, nostalgic remnants of DIY spirit, all amongst some impressively sincere and classic songwriting styles with heaps of memorable melodies. What Do You Do All Day? is their long-awaited debut, led by some dazzling singles — Again, Red Flowers, and Proper. The quartet show a strong commitment to nostalgic indie pop, but new life is infused through inspired instrumental choices, sunshine pop and folk elements, and glorious harmonic build-ups.
The group are Manchester-based but steer clear of the predictable post-punk aura often associated with the city’s bands. Their pop spirit remains intact, even as they move beyond the bedroom pop style of their earlier singles. Autocamper are out in the world, and their influences stretch far beyond one of England’s most lively cities.
“Because of the internet, you can build pretty solid connections with people who are based anywhere, and it feels like we’ve become part of this little community of K/Slumberland bands in the USA, like The Smashing Times, Sharp Pins, Lightheaded and The Umbrellas,” says Jack, the group’s co-lead singer and writer. “I believe those American bands share the same way of writing songs that evoke emotions in me as a listener that I’d like to replicate.”
Recording in Glasgow marked a “sort of homecoming” for the band: “Glasgow is where a lot of the music and ethos we love comes from, such as Orange Juice and Postcard Records and groups like The Pastels, Lung Leg, or even more contemporary stuff like Fraser MacCallum and Normal Service. Working with Chris McCrory from Catholic Action was great. He made these songs come to life and helped us step away from the bedroom pop and out into the world.”
The album opens with Again, an indie pop anthem with shades of David Gedge (The Wedding Present) and his dreamy, jangly guitar riffs. Frontman Jack Harkins incorporates some of Gedge’s own signature Petrarchan-lover woes into his lyrics: “I knew someone who looked like you / She stole my heart and she never knew.” Harkins spins this narrative to compare a mysterious past lover with someone new, signalling the inception of a bright and hopeful new love that is perfectly articulated by the lush guitar tones.
On the second track Red Flowers, the band proceed to flesh out their sound with the welcome addition of a flute, providing a calming undercurrent that perfectly complements Niamh Purtill’s soft melody. Map Like A Leaf introduces a slightly different texture, with organ building steadily until it’s pierced by a soaring flute line — an inspiring climax that feels like a volta within the album. The track concludes with a fifteen-second pause that serves as a much-needed breath before the intensity of Foxes, a track driven by sullen yet relentless drums, with Niamh’s harmonies in the foreground (a feature that recurs throughout the album, such as on You, creating some lovely harmonic textures).
Another highlight is Proper — instrumentally charming with reverby classic indie guitar riffs, organ and the catchy refrain: “Everything’s gonna be alright / cos you’re proper” — another one of Autocamper’s memorable melodies. The low and timbral vocals on Dogsitting are another standout, paired with Niamh’s harmonies and more sweet organ lines that carry over into the album’s longest track, Somehow. A personal favourite of mine, it’s defined by its thick, harmonic chorus and that wonderfully wonky, Felt-inspired organ—while Jack and Niamh chant:
“I don’t know where I’m going to now / But I’ll get there, get there, get there, without you somehow.”
Lyrically, the album moves through sentiments on love, personal relationships, uncertainty, and everyday modern life — often tinged with melancholy but always grounded in warmth and honesty. The album closes with Street View on this delightful and quirky repeated line that Niamh sings softly:
“Oh I’ll never learn / Don’t count your chickens before they’re birds.”
… Ending in sunlight, and leaving the impression that Autocamper know exactly what they are: a complete unit of colourful, DIY pop. It’s an impressive, sincere, and tight debut, basking in memorable melodies, harmonies, and the classic jangly instrumentation of bands you know and love.
What Do You Do All Day? is out now and will be followed by various UK live dates this summer. More on the band here.