CD CHOICE: This week's cd of the week is GLASVEGAS by Glasvegas on Columbia ****
Sounding like a poppy Ennio Morricone doing the soundtrack to a Mike Leigh film, Glasvegas's debut album is a curious mix of styles. The lyrics detail kitchen- sink-drama, housing-estate life, but the music sounds like it was composed by an adventurous Tamla Motown producer. The effect could have been jarring, but the scale of Glasvegas's ambition is impressive: a band who go for the Big Music without blanding out their message.
The Shangri Las, doo wop and early rock'n'roll are all gleefully in evidence here. At times, as on the powerful and potent Daddy's Gone, it seems like you could be listening to a record from four decades ago. Preventing them from falling into a retro groove are contemporary flourishes. Like The Jesus and Mary Chain before them, Glasvegas see nothing wrong with combining sheets of guitar noise with the best of 1960s pop. Listen closely to Geraldineand you'll hear the sound of JAMC's Psychocandymeeting The Ronettes.
Other times it's as if a glam- rock producer has been let loose on My Bloody Valentine - the guitar attacks come bearing gifts of melodies and harmonies. But there is a bitter kiss in most of the lyrics, as tales of gang violence, stabbings and racial attacks are superimposed on the music. Poignancy collides with rage as the music gets bigger and brighter while Glasvegas take you on a macabre mystery tour. This is very big and very clever. www.glasvegas.net
Download tracks: Geraldine, Daddy's Gone
