You’ve got to love the NME. One way of trying to lift their alleged falling sales is to spin out another “genre” to keep them in jobs and capitalise on thousands of kids wanting to be in on the next big thing. The latest of these being the terribly titled “nu-rave”. Oh dear. Anyway, after the lacklustre Klaxons and the inevitable backlash against bands such as New Young Pony Club here come the unradio-friendly titled Shitdisco to jump on the bandwagon. Or are they?

Seemingly channeling more punk than out-right dance music, their debut Kingdom Of Fear bristles with hooks, crooks and danceable grooves. From the opening bombast of Kung Fu “1, 2, I know Kung Fu” which rattles along with howled yelps, hacksaw guitars and a thumping bassline, you know you’re in for a good time. Reactor Party blatantly rips off The Shamen’s Ebenezzer Goode but in a good way, catchy and post-punk clashing with The Prodigy whilst the chorus of “We’ve never heard of the Ministry Of Sound” suggests that they’re keen to distance themselves from mainstream dance. The dark rumble of 72 Virgins might be a comment on Islamism but could have easily come from a Gang of Four album with its angular guitars but with a twist of 80’s disco thrown in for good measure. It’s doesn’t always work though, 3D Sex Show bangs and crashes through it’s three minutes but sounds a little too much like Heaven 17 for my liking and a touch too seedy. Another lacks any kind of punch and relies a little too much on the Gang Of Four with it’s jaunty bass-line and self-referencing lyrics.

However, this is an enjoyable romp through an alternate mixture of influences. It’s not your usual rush of post-Britpop nonsense. Like The Rapture’s debut, they’ve developed a sound that’s undeniably like someone else and yet comes across as totally fresh. Their boundless enthusiasm comes across in the record and they’ve got to be an absolute hoot to see live. Let’s just hope they don’t ape their influences too much and disappear into the dirge of over hyped bands.
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Links
Shitdisco [official site] [myspace]