Oh800 wear their influences proudly on their sleeves on "I Want You Around"

03 August 2018, 13:30 | Written by Ben Lynch

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(Oh800)

Influences aren’t always something bands should be trying to neglect. Most acts are a combination of borrowed sounds, and shouting your heroes loud and clear is no sign of defeat. Thankfully, London newcomers Oh800 have no such qualms.

Borrowing the marching post-punk of the likes of the Talking Heads, Oh800’s latest track, "I Want You Around", is a paranoid attack on modern life. Job expectations, friendships and loyalty are brought into question as the band ties its laments to a funky bass/drum combo Franz Ferdinand would be proud of.

None of these obvious parallels are to Oh800’s detriment however. Rather than proving to be another carbon copy, it has cherry picked and produced a sound that’s a charming amalgamation of it all. Certainly no rehash of anything that’s come before, Oh800 hits that sweet spot all while wearing its influences proudly on its sleeves.