Invocal are a four-piece female acoustic band from Northampton who formed sometime in 2003. They’ve released a couple of albums but it’s their newest, Uneven Keel that’s grabbing the attention.

It’s impossible to categorise this music and I’m inclined not to, but you readers need at least a few touchstones in order to decide whether or not you’ll like this stuff, so I’ll have a go.

The quote that’s been following Invocal around describes them as “Dark, gypsy folk tugging from one end, and an all out West End musical tugging from the other” and it’s hard to disagree with that. I’ll add that they’re odd and quirky, musically talented, and harmonious too.

The band have a fierce reputation as a live act and it’s understandable given the theatrical nature of their songs. Sometimes the humour takes over and sometimes the songs are moving and thoughtful, but the music features themes from modern life and many of the songs have funny titles that draw you in, such as ‘Madalini’s Aversion to Smalltalk Had Become Really Rather Extreme.’

‘Small Anxious Waltz’ is the most lesbotronic track of the album, a bittersweet love song with lyrics that are as sharp and precise as the musicianship. Other stand-out songs include ‘Tinnitus and Me,’ which must have the only musical interpretation of the hearing impairment ever recorded.

The opening to ‘Dear Friend’ is also one of the funniest I’ve come across in a long time: “I’ve been trying to figure out exactly how to let you know that you’re awful and I hate you, without hurting your feelings.”

What makes Uneven Keel so strong is its female view of the world. Although Invocal are likely to be dumped in alongside the usual tired singer-songwriter crowd, their music is richer and more compelling.

They reminded me of The Roches, a trio of New Yorker sisters who shone briefly in the late 1970s with their song-stories about work and family, the kinds of things that you never normally hear expressed in a song. Their music also reminds me of Jonathon Richman’s songwriting, the quirkiness has already been noted but it’s the combination of sweetness and sadness that they’ve really got down to a tee.

You probably won’t see this album crawling up the charts or discussed on the NME message boards, it’s not that kind of thing, but it is very girly and spiky and would probably be right at home in your music collection. Listening to it reminded me of sitting with my girl friends and having a good gab about anything and everything, and that’s a recommendation as good as any.

What’s with the rabbit on the album cover though? The notes say that he’s in rehab. Yikes.

Uneven Keel by Invocal is available to buy through the band’s own website, www.invocal.co.uk.