In my book, there is nothing like beginning a song with a killer riff and handclaps. Bravo to the stylishly attired Londoners and their smoky voiced, usually moustachioed singer Phil. I only wish that I had been less drunk when they supported Selfish Cunt at Club NME in Bierkeller earlier this year. Or better still: I wish that the succession of two quid vodka and cokes hadn’t kicked in until Martin Tomlinson and ami appeared, because even in my hazy memories of that night, Cazals and Fear of Music were considerably better.

But I digress. ‘Poor Innocent Boys’ is a great little track which by all rights should become one of this summer’s indie disco favourites. If not (sacrilege!), it should at least be played at top volume whilst partying, driving, doing the washing up… Yes, I reckon it would make a damn good driving song. The only problem is that the police probably take a dim view of clapping your hands instead of gripping your steering wheel in the prescribed ten-to-two position.

4/5

Review by Anne-Marie Pattenden
www.cazals.co.uk
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If the Magic Numbers were the angelic, happy sound of the early summer, then The Loungs are their much cooler, piss-taking Scouse cousins who used to spend July skiving Maths behind the bike-sheds with a joint and a bottle of White Lightning. And are therefore obviously the sound of the rest of the summer, it being festival season and all. But oh yeah – they’re not really Scouse. They just sound like they are.

Despite actually coming from St.Helens, a “funny little town midway between Liverpool and Manchester,” as Wills The Loung helpfully told me; opening track of the little medley he put together especially for us here at HV, ‘All Your Love’, is positively Coral-tinged. With vocal harmonies the size of ‘Shadows Fall’ from Skelly and the gang’s debut album, and a stop-start rhythm complete with maracas and la-la-las, it transports you to a faraway calypso land faster than you can say Easyjet.

But the lesson to learn here, kids, is that these particular melody merchants take influences from, rather than rob people. Self-confessed adoring fans of Brian Wilson, The Loungs’ second track “Armageddon Outta Here” is unmistakably West Coast, yet most definitely their own. Jaunty, sun-drenched guitars and gleefully flippant lyrics (‘And let the plane fall from the sky-y / For you know that I won’t miss you when you die-ie’) make this probably the most joyful break-up song you’ll ever hear.

Psychedelic hurdy-gurdy ‘Seen My Baby Dancing’ is a stoned ride on the waltzers with the Beach Boys and leaves you feeling decidedly giddy before you are gently nudged, stumbling forward, toward the initially acoustic following number where singer Jambo kindly informs you ‘I’m gonna take your girl away from you, you fool’ with a condescending smile upon his face. Never mind, the rest of them are there to put the comforting arm around your bewildered shoulders that is ‘In Winter Coats’ while you mourn your inevitable loss, and finish up with daft little ditty ‘Cats’ to make you smile again.

Phew! After that emotional rollercoaster, I need a breather; but only to let you know that The Loungs will be making an appearance at our very own Club Voltage, at Music Box on the 4th August; before I rush off to listen again. Who needs a holiday when we have The Loungs right here?

5/5

Review by Anne-Marie Pattenden
www.theloungs.co.uk
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Downliners are a London based 5 Piece Indie rock outfit with hints of acoustic thrown in for good measure. This Ep seems to be a reasonably low budget production however the quality of the songs makes you forget that you’re listening to a demo that was possibly recorded on a budget.

First song, ‘Thursday Alone’, though not my favourite on the record is a catchy bass driven tune, it reminds me a lot of Seafood, especially the vocals, care of Ross Owen. It’s reminiscent of the fashionable Indie that’s taking over the airwaves at the moment, possibly the choice for putting it first on the record.

Second up is ‘Burning Photographs’ and in my opinion the best song on this CD, starting out with a Snow Patrol feel to it, it escalades into a superb chorus which you’ll know all the words to and be singing along by the time the song is finished. Towards the end a few Schaa La La’s are thrown into the vocals and it turns into something the Counting Crows would be proud of, probably didn’t need it but it doesn’t spoil the song by any means.

‘Travel is Easy’ is the third song and to be honest sounds like something you’d hear in a new age church choir, doesn’t have the same sass as the other tracks.

The fourth and final track is recorded live and restores the energy that was present in the first 2 tracks. The Seafood comparisons are present throughout this record and no more so than on ‘Make it Alright’. This is a really good song although could have been a little longer (wow I must be impressed if I want songs to go on for longer)

Overall I think this is a really good EP, the quality of the song writing is obvious and judging from the live track the band seem to gel well on stage. According to their website they’ll be going into the studio with Tim Oliver, a producer who has worked with the Happy Mondays, Robert Plant, New Order and is currently recording the Cooper Temple Clause album, so this is surely good news. Whether they can distinguish themselves from the countless other Indie bands out there remains to be seen, however I for one hope they can.

Review by Rob Bassett
www.downliners.co.uk
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Rapid Fiction aren’t the best dark, angular guitar-pop band I’ve heard this year, but their own edgy brand of new-wave certainly presses all of the right buttons. Their sound contains hints of recent chart-bothering indie favourites like The Futureheads and Maximo Park, and if I was a fan of lazy journalism I’d happily describe them as ‘Franz Ferdinand-meets-New Order’. However, I’m sure that Kapranos and co meet up with Sumner, Hook et al fairly often, so I’ll try some slightly-less lazy journalism: Bryan Ferry pestering Interpol for sexual favours, maybe? (I don’t think that happens quite so often in real life, but, really, who’s to say?) In an increasingly crowded indie marketplace it remains to be seen whether or not Rapid Fiction can carve their own niche. Only time will tell.

Review by Tom Leins
www.rapidfiction.co.uk
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It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing every single note of the song to other bands, but perhaps this is the kind of response the Broken Dolls are looking for. They evoke the spirit of retro classics and use familiarity as their lethal weapon. I may be wrong, but Broken Dolls seem to be cut from the same cloth as the Glitterati. Rocking, but slightly over-hyped songs that make you feel like you’ve heard it all before. Ground-breaking it ain’t, but it’s catchy as hell!

Review by Neily Alimohamadi
www.brokendolls.co.uk
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The opening track on this demo from London newcomers Husky - ‘Loses Her Head’ is easily their trump card: the music throbs with Bloc Party-esque urgency and the laconic vocals give the song a nice twist. Elsewhere, although the band dredge up some nice, shimmering ‘Parachutes’-era Coldplay guitar-work, the remaining songs become a blur of sub-U2 anthemic bluster. Not bad, by any means. However, not particularly distinctive, either. A solid demo from a promising new band in search of their own identity.

Review by Tom Leins
www.huskymusic.co.uk
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