Portland quartet Houndstooth make a sophomore jump with their second album, No News from Home - returning one part leaner than on their 2013 debut, Ride Out the Dark, the band's chief weapons - songwriting guitarists Katie Bernstein and John Gnorski, drummer-producer Graeme Gibson - remain intact, which is why a band that was so good out of the gate has only redoubled its powers, evolving into a deeper version of itself.

Press for their debut: SPIN: "One of 2013's all too overlooked delights" UNCUT: "Houndstooth made their debut with this reverberant take on Americana and indie-rock.

There was a touch of Jefferson Airplane to their understated freak-outs, as John Gnorski's spidery guitar solos nudged them gently in the direction of psychedelia.

Katie Bernstein's diffident vocals, though, also recalled a couple of more recent acts: missing-in-action Californians Avi Buffalo, and another auspicious 2013 newcomer, the Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett"