Performance – ‘Short Sharp Shock EP’ (Polydor) Released 17/07/06

Self confessed Joy Division and Human League fans, it’s really hard to notice the influences of these 80s prodigies. Serious, us? Always. Labelled as the next big thing (who isn’t these days?) this monochrome and monotone shit synth just isn’t fashionable at the moment and doesn’t sit well on your stereo. Title track sounds like game-boy music featuring futuristic toy guns blasting. “I need a short sharp shock…” (of high voltage electricity, that should probably do the trick). 'I Want Out' is one big rip off – a repackaged 80s melting pot that’s just fallen off a rickety overused bandwagon. Plodding beats you can’t dance to, but maybe something you can pose to gloomily at the bar of the local dive/indie discotheque. Bizarrely, ‘Architecture And Police’ sounds like a slow tempo electro version of “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies. Intrigued? Don’t be.

It’s the summertime, so why make glum, industrial, smoggy drone. Cheer up and come onto the brightside and into the light.