So, here it is then, the successor to 'The New Cross'; can it possibly live up to its predecessor? Here's the track by track:
THE VICHY
GOVERNMENT - I CONTROL DISCOURSE
More spoken
word bile over cheap sounding keyboards from The Vichy Government, this
time taking on the role of a shadowy power crazed mastermind in control
of our language. Sinister and strangely catchy at first, but soon becomes
tiresome.
www.verot.net/vichygov
THE VIOLETS
- STEALER
Duh
Nuh, Duh Nuh-neh-nah - Ts! Ts! Ts! - 'Stealer' contains by far and away
the best intro to any song ever, before exploding into a cavalcade of
jittery guitars, crashing, cymbal heavy drumming and gorgeous female vocals
and then screeching to a satisfyingly ramshackle halt.
www.theviolets.co.uk
ART BRUT
& FRIENDS - TOP OF THE POPS
Every band in
the whole of New Cross! Top of the Pops! That's the general idea behind
this slice of guitar shredding genius. Special mentions to Luxembourg
for their louche effort, The Fucks faultless falsetto and to Rhesus for
being fucking mentalists.
The most fun it's possible to have
in one minute and thirty five seconds without getting arrested.
www.art-brut.co.uk
THE FUCKS
- ARGOS
Surprisingly
twee casio led indie with lovely overlapping vocals. The kind of band
you'd take to meet your mum (apart front the name, obviously).
THE LONG
BLONDES - AUTONOMY BOY
The best new
addition to the Angular family, The Long Blondes offer up a jagged slice
of spiky, atmospheric guitar, and sublimely interwoven vocal in the chorus.
Expect big things soon.
www.thelongblondes.co.uk
SHOWBOYS
- FACTORY
Elegantly
strummed, melodramatic melancholy featuring a lovely bit of cello. Not
the thing to put on if you want to cheer yourself up.
THE SWEAR
- ADVERT BOY
Not
The Swear's best song by a long shot, but it still contains a wonderfully
acerbic guitar line and enough attitude to put The Libertines out of a
job (if Pete Doherty hasn't already done so).
www.the-swear.co.uk
THE BOYFRIENDS
- NO TOMORROW
Lush,
poignant ode to not throwing your life away, featuring the wonderful,
polished mahogany vocals of Martin Wallace. Renders Morrissey's recent
comeback completely obsolete.
www.theboyfriends.com
SWEETIE
- FALL FOR YOUR LIES
Echoey
guitars and vocals over a rudimentary keyboard drum beat. Starts off nicely,
and has a nice floaty atmosphere to it, but doesn't manage much else and
passes by without leaving a mark on the memory.
ELIZABETH
HARPER - TROUBLE IN THE PALACE
Swooningly
beautiful female vocals over delightful melodies. Elizabeth Harper provides
a welcome contrast to the abrasive guitars proffered by many of the harsher
acts on the compilation. Listening to 'Trouble in the Palace' is a feeling
akin to angels pouring liquid honey through golden funnels into your slumbering
ears.
www.elizabethharper.net
GIFTHORSE
- HAPPY DAGGERS
So
much better than their live show that it's hard to believe it's the same
band. 'Happy Daggers' features a swaggering bassline, razor sharp shards
of guitar and a faltering, slightly desperate vocal that adds an emotional
core to the ice cold backing.
www.gifthorse.org.uk
LOVERS
OF TODAY - A SHORT NASTY SHOCK
A
short nasty shock indeed - one minute and two seconds of caustic guitar,
culminating in a lung bursting, throat wrenching outburst. Fun while it
lasts.
www.geocities.com/lovers_of_today
LUXEMBOURG
- LET US HAVE IT
Comfortably
the slickest act on the compilation, Luxembourg have near perfect timing,
everything drops out and kicks in with military precision to achieve maximum
indie pop effect, while David Shah's miraculous trembling vocals somersault
around the twinkling keyboard swirls.
www.luxembourgweb.co.uk
THE ROCKS
- WE GOT IT (GALEN REMIX)
Live,
'We Got It' is one of the most funkily energising and danceable stabs
of punk rock that I have ever experienced. The version which was released
as a single was merely a good jerky indie track. This remix rights that
wrong.
www.therocks.org.uk
So there we have it, 14 tracks, 40 minutes of the best new music currently emanating from New Cross and beyond. 'Rip Off Your Labels' not only matches 'The New Cross', but urinates upon it from a great height whilst laughing maniacally and screaming "TOP OF THE POPS!" in a slightly deranged toned.
Not "The new New York" (thank fuck for that), but a genuinely exciting hotbed of musical talent, expect to hear more of New Cross and Angular over the coming months.