As the band name suggests, there’s a contrarian resistance to consistency about this self-released album. The irony starts with opening track 'Guidance', the title belying the misleading and self-contradictory exhortations interjected by singer Elly Hopkins between Rowan Porteous’ assertive trumpet breaks over a snapping nu-soul beat. That scarcely prepares you for the laconic, light-touch ballad 'Back To The Centre’'s opening field sounds – cattle in a tunnel? – and a generally optimistic mood at odds with the song’s vaguely apocalyptic, gnomic lyrics.

The band have aptly described their approach as ‘dystopian soul for dancing into the void’ and the tunes cherry pick their references from breezy 1960s pop, lounge jazz, jazz-funk and retro-cinematic.

The two consistencies are Porteous’ trumpet, a strong and assertive presence throughout, and the precision drumming of Emma Holbrook ensuring that things hold together whatever mood shifts and swerves come her way. Both are exemplified in 'Sit Down', a pessimistic eco-message from the abyss – “time’s run out, there’s nothing left … just sit down, it won’t be long …” – the verses’ almost jaunty resignation separated by a mix of free-blowing crashouts and smooth jazz interludes. It’s probably the most accomplished and original number, followed by a tidy pastiche of 1960s soundtrack instrumentals that is itself dislodged by an anachronistic synth solo.

It’s Porteous’ project – he wrote music and lyrics – and it’s chock full of ideas, perhaps overfull in some of the lengthier tracks: there’s a sense of him trying to get everything into a debut recording. But then again, if time’s running out that’s just what you would do, wouldn’t you?