A Springtime Post

Well, since British Summer Time begins tonight (despite the fact that it's still frackin' freezing!), I have a tenuous-time related connection for a post about The Hourly Radio's debut record History will Never Hold Me.

After I *gushed* about these guys when I saw them supporting Stellastarr* a few weeks ago, their label were kind enough to sort me out with a copy - and that really is a massive kindness, since gawd knows when the record will get a UK release.

I liked them live, and I love the record; it's got a brash, confident sound. And I don't mean brash in any pejorative sense; Aaron Closson's vocals match the new-wavey guitar pop sound, and the coherence they showed as a group when they played in Dundee comes across in the record as well as in the individual songs.

The Hourly Radio - Not a Victim

They're also pretty clever lyrically, but it's the jagged guitar flashes and the rumble of their rhythm section that really lifts the record off the ground. And not only that, but that rhythmic power makes me sure that some of these songs will be dancefloor fillers... certainly, I had a good bop around my room this morning while I was listening to this! But that rumble is a nice contrast to the soaring vocals, and the record has a nice dark tone that underlies the power-pop stylings.

If I were you, I'd follow Jen's advice and get myself along to one of these guys' upcoming shows; for now, I'll just be hoping that they make it back to the UK sometime soon.

I'd also buy a copy of the double A-side Deaf Ears/Crime Does Pay from iTunes (US only just now) or from their website.

UK sluts can buy the E.P. Lure of the Underground, which features some of the songs on the record plus a couple of other tracks. I'd guess you can buy it from your local iTunes store too.

History Will Never Hold Me will be released in the US in the Spring.