Howling Bells, Madame Jojo's

Aussie indie rockers Howling Bells are back on form and touring new album Heartstrings, released in June.

Formed in 2004, the London-based quartet specialise in hulking rock ‘n’roll, veneered by the delicacy of Juanita Stein's coquettish vocals.

Heartstrings  came after a three year hiatus during which the band members each worked on their own projects. On this new album,their trademark blend of girlishness and machismo is still in place, and still works: Juanita Stein smoulders on the elegant opener ‘Paris’, but takes a backseat to her brother Joel Stein’s muscular guitar on standout track ‘Original Sin’.

The record marks a return to form after the modest response to 2009’s foray into electronic music Radio Wars and 2011’s The Loudest Engine which lacked mojo – back to rock.

Now, eight years after they first took the indie scene by storm, they seem to be fulfilling their early promise. This tour has become something of a rebirth for the group, who seem to be back on the way up.