The Sherlocks - Under Your Sky (LP) - Blue Galaxy Vinyl

Under Your Sky is the point where The Sherlocks tightened the screws and let their melodies do the talking. Released on 4 October 2019 through Infectious Music, the South Yorkshire outfit’s second album followed the top 10 success of Live for the Moment with a cleaner, brighter set of songs that still moves like a sweaty gig in a small room. Recorded with James Skelly at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, it leans into chiming guitars, big hooks and the kind of choruses you can pick up on first listen and belt by the second.

The bones of the band are the same, led by Kiaran Crook’s clear, slightly urgent vocal and his brother Brandon’s brisk, no-fuss drumming. Josh and Andy Davidson bring the tough and tidy guitar and bass lines that keep everything locked in. You can hear the group’s graft in the arrangements. Nothing is flashy for its own sake, but there is detail everywhere, from the tucked-in backing vocals to the crisp rhythm guitar takes that sit like a metronome for the whole record.

“NYC (Sing It Loud)” is the calling card, a skyscraper daydream with a chant that feels purpose-built for festival fields. It is the kind of track that explains why the band built a devoted following off the back of relentless touring. “One Day” dials down the tempo but not the ambition, all jangling guitars and wistful lines that sound like a letter home from the motorway. Both songs show off Skelly’s influence in the control room. The Coral frontman has become a go-to producer for British guitar bands, and here he keeps the sonics bright, the drums punchy and the vocals sitting forward so the choruses land cleanly.

“Magic Man” has a sly bounce that suits the band, a little swagger in the bass that suggests they were enjoying these sessions. “Waiting” is moodier, built on a patient groove that lets Kiaran stretch out his phrasing. Even the title track has a reflective glow, stepping back from the rowdy rush to remember why these stories matter. Lyrically, Under Your Sky sticks to the alleyways The Sherlocks know best, trading in late-night decisions, small-town nostalgia and the complicated tug between home and the wider world. It is familiar territory for British indie, but they sell it with heart and a knack for melody.

The leap from their debut is in the focus. Where Live for the Moment had a scrappy charm, this album trims the edges and aims for durability. That’s probably why it landed them a UK top 20 chart spot and a fresh round of attention from the weekly music press. The performances feel road-tested, yet the production takes care not to sand off the energy. Parr Street’s rooms give the drums a pleasing snap, and the guitars sit in that sweet spot between crunch and chime. It is not a radical reinvention, and it does not need to be. The Sherlocks double down on their strengths and trust the songs to carry the load.

If you are crate-digging for The Sherlocks vinyl, Under Your Sky is a safe bet because this sort of streamlined indie rock really comes alive on a turntable. The top end shimmers, the rhythm section gets a little extra body, and those gang vocals puff out in the room. I have spun a fair few modern guitar records where the digital master fights the format. This one behaves, which makes it an easy recommendation if you like The Sherlocks albums on vinyl and want something that will actually get regular play rather than sit as shelf candy. If you are looking to buy The Sherlocks records online, keep an eye out for a clean copy of Under Your Sky vinyl and you’ll be sorted for your next Friday night in. And if you stumble across it in a Melbourne record store while digging through new arrivals, even better. It sits nicely alongside current UK guitar fare and plays well with a cold beer and some late sun.

Under Your Sky does not try to change the world. It aims for connection, for a room full of people singing the same line, for a chorus that sticks when you are back on the train. On that score it succeeds. There is craft here, and a clear sense of who The Sherlocks are. For fans of punchy indie with honest sentiment, it is a keeper, whether you are streaming on your commute or adding it to a stack of vinyl records Australia collectors keep within easy reach.