Coming like Reggie and the Full Effect fronted by Siouxie Sioux recorded in a butcher's basement, this debut double A-side from Bristol quartet You And The Atom Bomb might not possess never-before-heard thrills, but it packs more energy and intelligence into its two songs than many acts manage across an entire album.
'Velocipedes' is a synth-heavy party starter with multi-voiced lyrics and a decidedly lo-fi and scratchy quality feel to it. Neat (and slightly proggy) bass work adds depth to a song that would otherwise be a smart enough dance-punk effort, and the final verdict is thoroughly positive. The song's flipside counterpart, 'Hotel Terminus', is slower of pace but stylistically similar: the boy/girl vocals work better here, though, as the words are delivered clearly. It's as sweet as an early Ooberman cut without the cringe-worthy fairy tale nonsense, and also has a flame of bouncy creativity that burns as brightly as that owned by The Coral.
Where the supernatural scousers went, You And The Atom Bomb could well follow, such is the potential here.
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7Mike Diver's Score