By Robert Bain

Thursday night at the Borderline, and there’s a distinct tone of what I understand is called “Americana” by people who want to avoid any association with the term “country music”. I could have sworn we were just off the Charing Cross Road, but it feels like we’ve travelled back a few decades and are deep in the midwest.

As if to prove the point, the collection of Americana-tinged acts are preceded by the very British Jack Cheshire. He takes the stage alone to kick things off, armed with his acoustic guitar (probably the only one of tonight’s acts who doesn’t pronounce it “geet-tar”) and his flat English vowels.

He’s an unassuming, even slightly awkward figure, but he bashes out his melancholy songs with such conviction that he’s a joy to watch – it’s like seeing someone practising in their room when they think no-one else is there. In fact, Cheshire’s slurred singing style, nervous twitches and sudden excited outbursts between songs give the impression that he may be somewhat unhinged. In a good way.

It’s a shame he doesn’t get the audience he deserves before having to make way for the nights other, janglier acts.

Jangliest of all are the Desert Downtown, who look like they’ve got lost on the way to a ‘50s theme party. They serve up polished, foot-tappy country tunes with nice male-female harmonies – a little too nice, if anything.

After the unremarkable James Walbourne it’s the turn of headline act, the Tailors, who bring a scruffier feel to the proceedings, all scratchy guitars and gravely voices. When the singer speaks we find he’s yet another Englishman, (quite a well-spoken one at that) but from their music you wouldn’t know.

With their endearing lackadaisical style, the Tailors are at times reminiscent of the Lemonheads, a comparison they seem happy to quote in promotional material.

The defiantly lazy lyrics of Belle Vue set the tone, with lines like: “My family paint me as a waster now / But there’s no work tomorrow and I’m going out”. It’s an understated but winning song with a playful, loopy chorus. The short and sharp What you say does not go is another highlight.

The Tailors’ recent debut album, Wakey wakey, reveals a band with sharp pop sensibilities, full of what sound like leisurely, absent-minded renditions of lost hits from another age. It’s almost as if they couldn’t be bothered to play any louder or faster, and it suits them just fine.

Tonight though, they clearly can be bothered which is a shame because what should be some of the best moments end up lost behind a wall of guitar fuzz.

They turn things down a notch for the encore, and less proves to be more. “I don’t like change”, with its memorable hook, is one of the evening’s high points.

Noise might be what most of the Borderline crowd had come for, but if you ask me it’s not one of the Tailors’ strengths. Having said that, nobody did ask me – or if they did, I couldn’t hear them for the noise.

The Tailors are playing Mud Lushes at the Slaughtered Lamb in Farringdon on 12 December. Their album, Wakey wakey, is out now. You can find them on MySpace.

The Desert Downtown are playing What’s Cookin’ at Leytonstone Ex-Servicemen’s Club on 5 December. Or on MySpace.

James Walbourne is playing Stage Fright at the Boogaloo in Highgate on 25 November and is on tour across the country in December supporting the Pogues. On MySpace.

Jack Cheshire is playing the Abbey in Kentish Town on 9 December and the Betsey Trotwood in Farringdon on 31 January. His album, Allow it to come on, is out now. On MySpace.