Do we need another angular guitar band you ask? Well probably not but yer getting one.

Conner have taken the retro baton and run with it like their very lives depend on it. They are indeed an odd bunch in sound. Like Franz Ferdinand who made it cool to plough through their parents record collection, lifting influences from the likes of Talking Heads and Wire, Conner have gone one further and adopted some rather unusual new romantic tendencies on top of these regimented guitar riffs. The album opener for example, ‘Silent Film Score’, sounds not unlike Adam Ant at his most flamboyant.

Hello Graphic Missile ticks all the right boxes, sounds like it was recorded in a biscuit tin, does exactly what it says on the packet, but desperately tries to break the mould by throwing in what they think you won’t expect. The press release sites influences as far flung as The Smiths and Iggy Pop, but don’t expect too much of that. Let’s say Franz hadn’t happened or The Strokes or Kings of Leon and just maybe Conner would have had a look in, but as it happens the aforementioned did happen are doing very nicely thank you.

‘Hello Graphic Missile’, Isn’t particular big or clever and the stripped down production sounds more local band on a first demo experience rather than the intended lo-fi ambience, but its not all doom and gloom, there are genuine moments of originality when they occasionally forget the stars in their eyes routine, but they have a long long way to go.

5/10

James Heward

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With practically everything sounding like a cross between The Arctic Monkeys and Chas and Dave at the moment, it was nice to stumble across this relatively unknown act, who tread slightly more unfriendly territory.

 Though traditionally an indie rock outfit who are pitched somewhere between Arcade Fire and The Walkman, they also flirt with electronica, clearly influenced by the likes of TV on The Radio and early Suicide. Hailing from Austin Texas,  they make no efforts to disguise their orgin. Singer Matt Oliver indulges the American garage punk vocal drawl with much gusto throughout. This would become repetitious and over the top were it not for the bands talent for a good tune and the production genius of Alan Moulder.

 It’s a lush parade of guitar hooks and cleverly built multi layered musicianship. The kind of band Hot Hot Heat wished they were and The Strokes can but dream of these days. But like these commercially struggling acts, Sound Team may well suffer a similar fate. As popular as this kind of genre was as little ago as last year. The NME’s transparently cool flavour of the month mentality is seeing off many a talented act that were assured column inches previously.

Check em out live if you can they are currently stopping off at a town near you.

8 of 10

James Heward

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1. Peter Bjorn and John – Up Against The Wall (Taken from the album Writers Block)

Why is it that Swedish indie acts can emulate the glamour of British retro pop better than we can? Its a tad bit embarrassing to say the least. Along with The Concretes and The Cardigans, Peter Bjorn and John make original, intelligent and emotive pop music. Their latest album, Writers Block, which features this little gem uses the less is more approach to impress. Up against the wall being the blue print for this, an insanely catchy vocal hook repeats throughout a full 7 minutes, the instrumentation simplistic in its cure- esque semi goth picked guitar riffs, it bounds along like a 3 minute pop affair, lures you in and keeps you for the duration…genius.

2. The Magic Numbers – Take A Chance (the forthcoming single)
3. Sound Team – Afterglow Years (Taken from the album Movie Monster)
4. Long Blondes – Once And Never Again (Forthcoming release)
5. Darkel – Beautiful Woman (taken from the album Darkel)
6. Morrissey – I’ll Never Be anybodies Hero Now – Live At The London Palladium
                     (Taken from the single In The Future When All’s Well)
7. Metric - Poster Girl (Taken from the album Live It Out)
8. Richard Hawley - Some Candy Talking (Taken from the single Hotel Room)
9. Fields – Brittlesticks (Taken from the e.p 4 From The Village)
10. The 1990’s - Your Supposed To Be My Friend (New single)

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Ah, the wonder of the British summer festival, the camaraderie, the we are in this together spirit, the fact you can do what you want, when you want and of course, great music…and then there was V.

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