Two years on from a promising but flawed debut album, it's a case of "as you were" for The Emerald Down as they return with their 'Aquarium' EP. They have stuck to their shoegazing formula and once again they put their best ideas at the beginning of an album. 'Henry Miller' is dense sounding and has an exhilarating, driving urgency so often found lacking with their fellow head-nodders. Nothing quite matches this moment of greatness but 'Stars' too possesses a toughness and steel that they will need if they are to stand out in this scene. Across all five tracks the key elements seem to be sticksman Jason Markin and bassist Bryan Ford who provide a sterling rhythmic undertow which fights hard to prevent the music from being washed away and even when it does - on finale 'Sometimes The Sun Shines' - they actually provide a soundscape approaching Sigur Ros. Naturally the shoegazing scene reached its peak over 10 years ago but at least the flame is still flickering for the likes of The Emerald Down.