Big Box of Chocolates doesn’t give much away about the sound of an upcoming album, and it definitely doesn’t mirror the velvety rich sound I was expecting to come from Hooton Tennis Club’s second album. Scuzzy guitars and unhinged tunes make this album a toast to mid-twenties angst and middle of the line indie.

The Merseyside boys’ creation is a playful narration of their personal lives and the characters within it. Each track brings an eccentric character to life and is filled with effervescence. ‘Bootcut Jimmy the G’ is the first individual to feature on the album and see himself beautifully depicted through tongue-in-cheek lyricism and lo-fi guitar riffs. The album is storytelling at its best – light hearted, gently novel and set to a fuzzy, tune-filled backdrop.

‘Katy-Anne Bellis’ is a perfect example of the Liverpool boys’ ability to illustrate even the simplest of tales into gorgeous four-minute tracks to bob your head to. Written about the lads’ friend who has moved away, and set around begging her to visit at least once, the track brings a sense of nostalgia with its charming guitar riffs and sweet lyrics. The concept is sentimental, but the sound mirrors a genre of alternative rock that was at its pinnacle in 2008, when bands such as Lightspeed Champion and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly dominated the scene. This couples a sense of indie adolescence with a technical maturity seen in the band's catchy and well-structured melodies, a perfect combination for an easy to listen to and joyful album.

‘Meet Me at the Molly Bench’ is another track on the album that clearly reflects the band’s ability to create an appreciable album without overworking themselves. The track encompasses traits from slacker rock-esque bands in its production, and a happy-go-lucky melody suggests that, while these guys are slowly cracking their way into the mainstream industry, they’re not trying too hard. With a percussive bike bell jangling in the back of this track, the enjoyment of making this album can really be felt. According to the foursome, they locked themselves away in Helmsdale, “drank copious amounts of tea, became bird watchers and whiskey tipplers” while recording.

The album ends with a bizarre ode to BBC radio presenter Lauren Laverne in ‘Lauren I’m in Love’; “Lauren sends her love to lift my Monday blues, and now the news / All through the day she keeps me company,” and a fabulously melancholic track ‘Frostbitten in Fen Ditton.’ This wistful half-ballad romantically combines melancholy with optimism. Its capacity to couple disillusionment with romanticism and quiet hope make it the perfect example of this album’s endless charisma.

Big Box of Chocolate is an allegiance to this band’s boyish enthusiasm and magnetic friendship, wittingly using relatable narratives to sell a 90s-esque, slacker rock, loveable 12 track journey through Liverpool and the boys’ personal thoughts and feelings.

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