The Just Joans, sibling duo David and Katie Pope, are set to release their new album ‘Romantic Visions of Scotland’ via Fika Recordings on 23 January. The album finds them casting their eye on the ridiculous moments of romance and everyday disappointment…

‘Think Fast, Make Conversation’ opens the album with super-sweet Orange Juice hooks and lyrics about excruciating conversations. There’s a melodic dual-vocalled chorus while its title is sang in unison. This is swiftly followed by ‘Here Come the Rugby Boys’, a catchy Belle & Sebastian-style piece with plenty of relatable self-depreciation: ‘Run away from the ball whenever it comes near me’. It’s a gentle ribbing of the toxicity of winner-takes-all youth sports and has the band showing their innermost thoughts: ‘Mud on my knees as they score another try. I wonder what mother is making for supper’.

There’s a touch of Steely Dan in the opening moments of ‘Limpet’, a proudly positive few minutes (‘I’ve never been so happy’), while ‘Drinking on a Weeknight’ finds some personal thoughts being delivered against perfectly pitched brass and gentle guitar: ‘It can be so cruel when there’s nothing on TV’. ‘Back on the Meds’ reminded us of The Doors ‘People Are Strange thanks to its twisted melodies while, rather appropriately, ‘The Day We Missed the Train’ has nods to Britpop: ‘Someday you will find me sadly reminiscing on the songs I never sung you’.

Things move into art pop territory on both ‘Oh Veronica, How Right You Are’ and brilliantly titled ‘Romantic Visions (Prepare for Disappointment)’, with its perfect couplet: ‘I had a boyfriend, he was a bellend’. ‘Strictly Presbyterian’ is a rough-around-the-edges slice of fight pop – ‘We don’t have time for telly or frivolous small talk’ – while the penultimate ‘Everybody’s Moving to Australia brings to mind more current contemporaries like Martha or The Cords.

‘Say You’ll Never Leave Me’ is a romantic song that may be The Just Joans’ take on Oasis’ ‘Married with Children’: ‘Promise that you’ll love me even when I’m old and ugly’ and ‘Marriage is outdated’ just two of the thoughts on show. It finishes in a swarm of anthemic chamber pop.

These ‘Romantic Visions of Scotland’ are ones you’ll want to take in.