We find ourselves in The Sisters of Mercy's Reptile House for the excellently titled "Mary Death". It's an instrumental with drums that mimic a heartbeat, coruscating guitar and tentative bass. When a band forms they usually mirror their idols most closely, before discovering their own identity. This is good news for Sisters fans listening to this album. Whether by accident or necessity the production of "Velvet Curtain" is similar to that of early Sisters of Mercy releases. Singer Joseph has adopted Andrew Eldritch's vocal mannerisms, which were always a little second hand anyway, so no one is going to worry too much about that.

"Take You Away" starts with a mournful Cure keyboard sound. The sort that makes you think that everything in your life is going to melt away, but for some reason you don't mind melting with it. A guitar echoes over the melancholy land. Things have been restrained so far, so it's delightful when "Give Rise" comes storming into the party, drinking the punch, kissing the girls before being sick on a duvet. There is something of Pete Murphy in the wailing in which Joseph indulges. "Voyage" mixes one-note-at-a-time lead guitar, with dirty guitars in the background. There's an urgency to this song that is inviting. "Sweet Lies" sees the return of the melting keyboard sound. The longing, mixed with regret, is a potent brew for the listener. The 'ooh, ooh'-ing detracts from The Cure-esque spirals of guitar being woven, but that's a small criticism.

Voyage might sound like other bands but never specific other songs. The Daughters of Bristol bring little originality to the party. But if you like the dark waters in which they paddle they can offer you more succour than the recent output of many of the genre's originators.