Hearts and Arrows is the third full-length release from London six-piece Danny and the Champions of the World. Though hailing from London, the music and lyrics on Hearts and Arrows conjure up images of Cadillac’s and diners more readily than greasy spoon cafes and Mini Coopers. There is a distinct American vibe to the record, especially in terms of its instrumentation. There is also healthy dose of cinematic storytelling that is reminiscent of the work of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.

The record starts strongly enough with “Ghost In The Wire”, a great classic rock style opener, with Danny Wilson’s distinctly soulful vocals rising above a nice building guitar and drum part. Lyrically, opener "Ghost In The Wire" sets the tone for the rest of the album; strong intelligent lyrics replete with great little pop hooks that draw the listener in. Second track “Heart & Arrow” also highlights Wilson’s ability to construct thoughtful and interesting lyrics, without losing any of the hooks; after only a few listens I found myself wanting to sing along.

Hearts and Arrows is a fairly long record, checking in just past the hour mark, but it is a record that rewards the persevering listener. Its length and thematic undercurrents mean the record lends itself quite well to long road trips. However, if you find yourself unable to sit still long enough for a uninterrupted listen, the record’s consistency and overall flow doesn’t suffer too much from shuffling or from dipping in and out. This is largely due to the song writing at work throughout the album, with each separate track feeling like its own story.

Musically, the record brings a few other different artists to mind. The influence of the likes of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen are there for all to see. There are subtle homages to the Springsteen back catalogue, not to mention a pretty blatant one, with the brilliant cover of “Tougher Than The Rest”, which comes near the close of the record. Danny Wilson’s vocal reminds me of a hybrid of the E Street Band’s Nils Lofgren and Alt Rocker Jesse Malin. Whilst the instrumentation definitely has a surf rock feel to it, with some wonderful guitar work.

Hearts and Arrows is a strong nuanced record, albeit one which requires a fair bit of perseverance if you intend to listen to it in its entirety. It’s a long record, with the majority of the tracks stretching out to over three minutes. But ultimately it’s a record that rewards you for your perseverance, treating you to moments of lyrical and musical brilliance. The song writing and musicianship on this record is confident and assured and unerringly consistent. Hearts and Arrows shows a band at the top of their game.

Review Score: 8/10