Turin Brakes latest CD, JackInABox, showcases the work of Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian. The South London duo, friends from elementary school, showed an interest in music early in life. In elementary school, Olly and Gale tried out for the cathedral choir in the hope of singing for the Queen. They eventually did.

JackInABox contains Modern Folk Pop. It incorporates a healthy blend of soulful sounds with an upbeat rhythm.

The first track, “They Can’t Buy the Sunshine,” made me feel like I was lying on a beach watching the sunset.

“Forever,” the slow ballad, dragged on and on. It almost sounded like “Amazing Grace” sung in super slow motion.

JackInABox was produced in Brixton, England, in the duo’s own recording studio: a former horse stable area, complete with sloping floors to allow drainage for horse urine.

The title track has some U2 influence. The catchy lyrics stick in your head: “Oh no my world is on fire/ Someone get some water because I think I’m going to burn.”
Turin Brakes would benefit from writing verses a little less clichéd. Who hasn’t heard of phrases like “Me and my girl are going to make it if we try,” “Catch me if you can,” and “I’m stuck in the rat race?”

Turin Brakes sounds slightly similar to Coldplay. The only difference is Olly’s voice. He can make it change from a soft drawl in the dreamy “Fishing For A Dream,” to a harsh rasp in the depressing “Road To Nowhere.”