Hype has been pretty steadily growing around the all-female LA band Dum Dum Girls ever since the release, to widespread critical acclaim, of their debut album I Will Be in 2010. Songs like "Jail La La" were combined with impressive live shows supporting Vampire Weekend to cultivate a burgeoning fan base. The message for their second effort Only In Dreams was very much “more of the same please.”

This is a record, however, that doesn’t sound anything like what was expected. Dum Dum Girls have quite clearly evolved and matured rapidly, their classic lo-fi sound is still present but it is now more refined and unquestionably a little less rough around the edges. Lead singer Dee Dee Penny has also undergone a remarkable transformation. Her subject matter has moved from jaunty teenage nostalgia on I Will Be to very real and very raw outpourings on issues such as the death of her mother. "Hold Your Hand", a gorgeous little number, was written immediately after the diagnosis of a fatal illness. Dee Dee is this record’s greatest asset, seizing the limelight and stealing the show in a Blondie-esque fashion.

It is clear that Dum Dum Girls are a band completely immersed in their record collection. A love for Jesus and the Mary Chain becomes apparent right from the first song "Always Looking", the bass beautifully rumbling away in the background, whilst the more mainstream direction taken on this record gives it a hint of Siouxsie and the Banshees.

In truth, it is difficult to know what to make of this record. It feels as if Dum Dum Girls have come so close to hitting the jackpot, but have fallen agonisingly short. It misses a song with the instant impact of "Jail La La" to get the attention they so crave, and while at times the records soars with songs such as the majestic "Teardrops on Your Pillow", the overall impact is a little underwhelming. Make no mistake, however, this a band with an awful lot to give, and I for one can’t wait to hear it. School report would read: "Could do better".