What is it with Australia these days? The country’s positively saturated with really rather exciting music all of a sudden. It’s like Stefan Dennis and INXS never happened.

Latest export, Cloud Control are brimming with the sort of feel-good, breezy close-harmony stuff usually marked ‘Americana’ these days - but with this four piece from the Blue Mountains (of New South Wales, not Virginia) it seems Australiana can give just as good a psychedelic folk-rock combo too.

Live Chops: Cloud Control have been wowing their native Sydneysiders for a few years now and, live, their winsome Mamas and Papas chirpyness comes with a side of Vampire Weekend-esque afrobeats, electronic bleeps, reverb washes and - of course - handclapping aplenty 8/10

Track Record: They didn’t call their free wheeling, sun-drenched debut set ‘Bliss Release’ for nothing. But, unlike many of their fey Camera Obscura-type peers, there’s a real energy and inventiveness here, too. It’s not all trippy-hippy wig outs and pants-swinging, there’s genuine craft and cleverness at work here, too. 8/10

Venue: The Shipping Forecast’s Hold isn’t great - it’s a peculiar little space, and you’ve really got to be close to the action to feel connected. On a good night, the energy’s palpable. But it’s struggled to stay consistent. 6/10

Supporting Act: SevenStreets party favourites Picture Book always deliver a belter, and Melbourne’s grimy psychoville outfit Our Mountain are exactly the sort of band you’d think came straight outta Meols. 8/10

Kendal Calling Presents
Cloud Control
Our Mountain
Picture Book
The Keys
Friday, 20 May
Shipping Forecast, Slater Street
Liverpool Sound City