I’ve only been listening to the eponymous debut album from Revolving Doors for a matter of weeks, but it’s already become something of a permanent fixture on my CD player. A Wisconsin-based three-piece comprising drums, keyboards, and guitar, Revolving Doors seemingly make little effort to differentiate themselves from the plethora of middle-of-the-road instrumental bands in existence; nevertheless, Revolving Doors proves to be a unexpectedly enjoyable listen.

Never one to shy away from abstract thought, Revolving Doors initially struck me as being some kind of Saxon Shore-lite/Canyonsofstatic hybrid (the latter, it later transpired, also hail from Wisconsin and have shared a stage with Revolving Doors). At times, they verge on the ambient, with “The Sound Of Forgetting” and “No Reason Not To” ostensibly betraying an influence by fellow Wisconsonians Lights Out Asia. Most of the album, though, has more of an instrumental rock ambiance to it. The formulaic, quiet-loud “Time Will Tell” is a prime example of this (admittedly a pretty good one), with a serene, almost lullaby-like combination of delay-fuelled guitar and keyboards giving way to squealing feedback and some fierce strumming. “My New Favorite Abacus” is perhaps the highlight of the album. Electro beats fuse with shimmering tremolos and some insistent keyboard lines; you might very well have trouble refraining from foot-tapping along to the end result (I know I did).

Revolving Doors are not spectacular, they’re not really a deviation from the norm (unless you’re still at the stage where listening to a band without a singer is something of a novelty – in which case, welcome to The Silent Ballet!) and I daresay they’re unlikely to ever cause more than a ripple in the world of instrumental music. Despite all that, though, I find myself strangely drawn to Revolving Doors, infused as it is with catchy riffs, likeable melodies, and ambient airs aplenty. Dismiss them as derivative if you want, but Revolving Doors are at the very least worthy of 45 minutes of your undivided attention.

-Richard White