The follow up to 2020s self-titled debut, ‘Cacti’ should rightly find Billy Nomates breaking into the mainstream. Brimming with witty lyricism and atmospheric darkness, there’s a Post-Punk angularity to ‘Cacti’s’ worldview that draws on the darker side of 80s Synth Pop from New Order to Depeche Mode. Filled with warbling synths and modulated guitar the tracks take on a variety of guises, from the jaunty bleakness of ‘roundabout sadness’ to uptempo Alt-Pop of ‘blue bones (deathwish)’. Elsewhere ‘spite’ is a Grungey singalong built on a wonderful fuzz bass riff that leads into the downtempo acoustic Americana of ‘fawner’. There’s a real sense of strength throughout ‘Cacti’ that gives a relaxed, tempered air to proceedings. A confident sophomore release more people need to hear.