San Francisco’s The Umbrellas coalesced around a group of musicians who would frequent legendary SF record emporium Amoeba Music. The four-piece all share a love for earnest and accessible pop music and that’s very evident on ‘Fairweather Friend’. The ten tracks here are lean but full of tumbling guitar hooks and whip-smart melodies that work their particular magic right from the get-go. They’re not averse to letting the hand-break off either. GM

Released 26 January on Tough Love Records