English Teacher’s daring adventures cumulate in the outstanding This Could Be Texas

Their journey has seen them experiment with different sounds and flavours for fans to witness in real-time, and here we have the final cumulation of the past few year's hard work.

Presenting their debut album This Could Be Texas, English Teacher have proven the hard graft paid off, as their current sonic identity flourishes in perfection. The album could be one of the finest debuts of the decade, with every band member shining in their ability and craftsmanship.

Fronted by witty Yorkshire wordsmith Lily Fontaine, she’s previously stated she wants to be a writer first and musician second, and this attitude results in some exceptional lyricism. From her reflections on struggling to find a complete identity on "Mastermind Specialism", to a social critique of dealing with being a woman of colour in the music industry on the newly recorded version of "R&B", the wonderfully crafted lyrics are raw and fascinating.

The instruments compliment the lyrics perfectly, with touches of Johnny Marr-esque guitars on the likes of "I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying" and piano playing taken straight from a Radiohead number on "Albatross", the entire album’s instrumentals are a soothing listen on the ears.

Many have compared English Teacher to the likes of Black Country, New Road and Squid, and whilst they’re sonically similar in a sense, the beauty of This Could Be Texas is in its originality and ingenuity. One particular thing that propels this on listen is something the other bands don’t and have and never will – northern charm.

Whilst some wonderful music has risen from the Brixton Windmill scene, only so many experimental post-rock bands from London can do something unique and interesting with their music. It’s about time we see some devolution for guitar music like this. London-centric guitar music has served us well in recent years, but the scene has certainly detracted from up north, which we know is a breeding ground for wonderful music.

The Leeds-based quartet showcases their prowess in this genre and they’re undoubtedly poised for further success with upcoming tour dates slated for the year ahead. As they continue to garner attention, it's evident that English Teacher's rise is very well-deserved and only just beginning.