Based in Birmingham, Little Juke are an alternative rock band who first came to our attention in October 2024. After their single, Down The Rabbit Hole, appeared in Jane’s Monthly Favourites roundup, I shared their track When The Sea Came To Tea.

By Graeme Smith

Both tracks feature on their debut album, Departures From The States of Mind, with the former getting the album going in slow-burning and cinematic style while the latter provides a mid-album anchor, giving us a shimmering, bombastic highlight.

Elsewhere we get vibrant shades of alternative rock. Round of Applause provides a lively, bluesy moment while Time On My Mind is brooding, raucous and spoken word. Strange Fruit bristles with a macabre undercurrent. No Illusions is a powerful, anthemic climax. Just When You Thought It Was Safe closes the album with a slow-building meditation.

Collectively the album’s ten tracks give us stories of the highs and lows of everyday life, told in a way that gives it a sense of mystery and adventure. I was hooked from start to finish.

Little Juke are Alex on vocals, rhythm guitar and keys, Ste on guitar and backing vocals, Han on bass and backing vocals, and Tom on drums.

Departures From The States of Mind is out now, available to buy on vinyl, CD and cassette. You can give it a listen below.