As the sun hangs high in the summer sky roads spill over with those fleeing urban life for a bit of the country. And that needs some apropos musical accompaniment, of course. Enter our featured pair of bands. They can be enjoyed city or country, wherever you are, but their nom de plumes give me an excuse to slot them in here.

Whiltshire’s favourite jangle duo Rural France return with album #3 Exactomondo, still channeling their own unique interpretation of influences like Teenage Fanclub, Lemonheads, and Guided By Voices. Opening cut “Tag Along” has a sweet lofi charm, almost shoe-gazey. Other songs like “Sunslip” and “Guideropes” kick off with solid guitar hooks while the vocals ride a solid bed of jangle. “Ghost Dance” sounds like a single, launching with an alluring opening and crashing guitar chords. Though “Packhorse” is a solid second choice for chart action, a carefully calibrated assortment of sounds that swap out the spotlight. “Blabbermouth” deploys a pedal steel guitar to expertly add a country shade to everything. “Prize Goose” rides us out to the inner groove with an almost meditative Shins-like pop perfection, sliding into guitar god territory near the end. Looking back after hearing it all, Exactomondo is clearly full of great songs but it’s also a solid album experience.

On the new Valley Lodge LP Shadows in Paradise things open with a stunning should-be hit single: “Daylights.” From the relentless driving guitar work to the seductive interplay between the main and background vocals this song just never lets up on its addictive sonic attack. It’s a song that should be echoing out of car stereos all summer. From there the band showcase their amazing melodic dexterity, throwing hooks into multiple styles of poprock. Whether offering a Bruno Mars pop playfulness of “I Wrote a Song” or a more Vaccines-like party energy on “Trouble” there seems to be no subgenre they can’t excel at. You can find a new wave rock and roll attack on “After School,” a seventies disco and pop R&B flavour to “Secret Lover,” or even a 1980s Merseyside revival-style happening with “Dyin’.” The attention to song arrangements here is impressive. “Hanging Around” takes that classic “Latest Flame” guitar strum the Jam also used for “That’s Entertainment” and artfully arranges a kind of sonic tour, with a little acoustic guitar here, some keyboard shots there, all tied up with a very singable tune. Then there’s “Out Of Time,” my personal fave. So hummable – I love the lush background vocals and crashing guitar chords. Closing song “That Love” makes what could be a sitar sound almost upbeat with a tune and vocal hauntingly reminiscent of Ian Gomm.

Enjoy that country air with just the right mix to tunes. Like these ones. Hit those hyperlinks above to properly soundtrack your summer travels.

Photo ‘Tomorrow’s the Day my Bride’s Gonna Come’ courtesy Thomas Hawk Flikr collection.