Yours Sincerely, Dr Hardcore Blood and Biscuits ***
These rock experimentalists aren't doing anything particularly new or innovative on their debut album, pursuing a similar line in instrumental rock to Irish bands Enemies and And So I Watch You From Afar. Yet despite the Welsh quartet's lack of originality, this is a record heaped with creativity thanks to the inclusion of electronic undercurrents seemingly culled from dated arcade videogames. Rhythm Is a Misery's hypnotic electronic mood benefits hugely from the frequent bursts of spacey synthesizer. Astaroth's glitchy intro gives way to a melody apparently scrounged from the original Tron soundtrack, while Bromden blends dramatic tribal drums with a stuttering electronic groove. It's unclear whether Gallops can pursue this niche much further, but they're audibly enjoying themselves.
gallops.bandcamp.com
Download tracks: Rhythm Is a Misery, Bromden