Twelve years and five albums into your career is a strange time to put out the 'self titled' release, but Melbourne's Even do exactly that in what might be a final attempt at making a splash in the UK. The wrong side of thirty now (come and join me lads) they have a couple of shows in London in May around an appearance at the ATP vs Pitchfork Festival in Camber Sands. Live they are in their element and this has sustained them back home in the small Australian market. Indeed this album had a two year stop-start gestation as they gathered funds for recording bit by bit. They draw hugely from 60s/70s rock from late Small Faces to Zeppelin, with previous Beatles elements taking more of a back seat to a heavier approach here. They missed out on the Brit-pop surge first time around but have kept at it with their power guitar and bashing cymbals sound that puts them firmly in that niche.Even are in fact odd, being a three piece - lead singer and songwriter Ashley Naylor, Wally Kempton, and Matthew Cotter: guitars, bass, and drums respectively. However, they have some extra friends in, including guest guitarist Peter Holmstrom from the The Dandy Warhols - a fan and friend since touring together in the late 90s.'I Am The Light' is a bright driving opening, supported by 'Only One' with a touch of The La's. By about the third track things are wearing a bit thin, though they are getting rhythm heavier and bluesier. All this is brought sharply to a halt by the unexpected country honk of 'The Fool Who Makes You Sad' - standing alone in the centre of the album like a lighthouse amidst the crashing waves of guitar tunes. The following 'Sister Rock' is infectiously catchy and has a Spiders From Mars Bowie or T. Rex glam groove, and Dandy Warhols fans will appreciate the massed assault on the senses that is 'Keep On Burning'. The final monster-riffed 'Pinnacle' sees them rock out in some style.This is not a bad album, just almost inevitably given their influences most of it has been done before and it comes without the sparks of inspiration to set it apart. I can see that Even would be a blast live - improved by some sweat and raucous volume, but they do not make enough of a real impact here for me to sit up and listen, at least repeatedly. As Naylor sings: "I am a small, small fire but I keep on burning". Good on you mate, and your band is still better than Oasis. 61%Links Even [official site]