Fact #128981

If there's a market for a low-rent 21st century kitchen-sink version of The Human League, these guys have got it made. Built around the cheesy voices of Joe Northern and two all-singing all-dancing girlies known only as Liz and Andie, they made a big splash at the 1998 In the City A+R sharkfeed, after which V2 outbid everybody else, they released a single last May, and presumably went into low profile mode while they got this album together. Peppered with knowing nods to Phil Spector, The Shangri-Las and other teen-pop icons, it should be a blast, but no, it's all just a little too arch and too knowing, a triumph of intellect over emotion. Most of these songs would work a treat in a low-budget musical revue touring the provinces in competition with Little Shop Of Horrors or Forbidden Planet, but they're going to look well naff on Top Of The Pops. But then nerdy was cool two years ago, so maybe naff is the whole point. I hate it.
Johnny Black, review in Hi Fi News.