Vampire Weekend - 'A-Punk'

Vampire Weekend’s second single is a revert to type for any new, hotly-tipped indie band. Jittery guitars, circuitous bass lines and liberal sprinklings of “oh, oh oh,” chants are all present and correct. The allure of the track is that it manages to sound unique despite having as much musical originality as a jamming session with Hard-Fi and The Darkness. Its inventiveness lies in the lyrical nuance of singer Ezra Koenig, with perky lines like “His honour drove southward seeking exotica/cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas,” bringing the song a buzzing zip.

Its frantic style isn’t aiming to be expansive; this is merely a two-minute jerk of snappy, poppy dynamism. There are more captivating songs on Vampire Weekend’s debut album, but ‘A-Punk’ is a danceable introduction to an entrancing band.

Released 25/02/08 on XL Recordings.