It's not uncommon for artists to look to the past for inspiration; scenes and trends tending to repeat themselves in twenty year cycles. Viarosa, however, look much further back than recent history, culminating in a debut mini album that is as much about the Middle Ages as it is about emulating the Tindersticks' model of brooding ballads. The whole project is led by Richard Neuberg, a man who has come back from a long period of illness and - particularly on 'Wake' - his croon is full of the pain and world-weariness that one would expect for someone who has suffered for their art. The band sound best when they step up the pace as on 'Where The Killers Run'; the Medieval melodrama created by the drums and mandolin now accompained by a sense of urgency and 'Poor Man's Prayer' is as intense as country-inflected music can get. With its mixture of traditional instruments and moody songwriting, the result is an unusual and compelling mix.