Of the things I wanted to mention this week, by far the most exciting news is the return of Model Train Wreck.

They've been pretty much my favourite New Zealand band since their self-titled debut album in 2014.

Now, after a four year hiatus, not only have the band launched a new five-song EP, but they're hauling themselves out of Auckland for a show in Tauranga.

Last time they were here was for a memorable gig over at the Mount's Hop House (now relocated to the city centre and called The Barrel Room), but come October, you'll find the quartet down at The Incubator at the Historic Village.

I will remind you closer to the time.

In case you're not aware of them, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the case since they don't exactly court publicity, Model Train Wreck are Chris Howard on lead vocals and guitar, Hamish Peart on saxophone and organ, Carl Letcher on drums and Tom Healy on bass, who also produced the EP and album at The Lab in Auckland.

Tom is, to put it mildly, a bit of a whiz in the studio having been award-nominated at the Vodofone Music Awards for his production work with Tiny Ruins (he lost to Joel Little for Lorde's debut album).

He also plays fine guitar.

The sound

The sound the band make is hard to describe, so for a moment I'll defer to their own description: 'Model Train Wreck play off-kilter, modern indie-pop songs, with a sound borrowed from the 1950s and 60s. They have been compared to bands ranging from the Mutton Birds to the Beach Boys to the Stray Cats, and their live shows are always engaging and energetic.”

In fact, the band used to describe themselves as 'rockabilly”, and a few tracks on the album skirted with that idea. But those edges are not the ones explored here.

Things kick in with ‘I Want You Back', the title track and single. And it's pure Model Train Wreck – a dizzying, energetic saxophone riff, angular and almost jazzy. One characteristic the band have is a unique way of making things appear frantic and this riff does just that. Musicians would immediately pick it for some clever time signature, a rushing 5/4 such as the Mission Impossible Theme or ‘Take Five', but it's not. It's just the way they play.

That's one of three songs by Chris Howard: his guitar sticks largely to rhythm duties here, adding to the driving rhythm section and keyboards, but his smooth tenor voice continues to soar to apparently effortless heights.

Add in harmonies and you have a complete and distinctive sound.

Comparisons

You could maybe place the band alongside Lawrence of Arabia or Liam Finn – two other purveyors of high-voiced pop tunes – but Model Train Wreck stand out because these songs were largely recorded live with minimal studio trickery. They are all very impressive musicians.

Each of Howard's songs are little earworms, unusual and catchy in equal amounts. ‘My Daughter Never Grew Up' is almost completely composed of hook lines, a perfectly condensed pop song, while the playful ‘I've Found Someone Else' explodes into a joyful chorus in no time. They're songs that will make you smile.

Peart contributes the very good ‘My Ghost Girlfriend', and I feel almost guilty for not liking the EP's final song ‘Space Base' from drummer Letcher. But he's hit my bête noir – 70s lounge music. It's smooth as all getup, has a Fender Rhodes and sounds like something from the soundtrack of ‘Space: 1999'. All I can think of is polyester pant-suits and Austin Powers, but that's just me.

The song is immaculate in every other way, as is the EP. Check the band's Facebook page or have a listen on Spotify – you won't regret it.

And I've run out of room.

To finish, I just wanted to remind everyone that the New Zealand International Film Festival kicked off at The Rialto on Thursday. It's running for 25 days, so I'll get back to it next week with thoughts and recommendations.