Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

The Retro Spankees

Vowel Play

Label: Kooky Release Date: 21/08/2006

15005
therapyrock by Ben Yates August 23rd, 2006

I like songs that are fun. Clocking in at exactly 1 minute 53 seconds, ‘Vowel Play’ by The Retro Spankees is exactly that – fun.

Displaying a penchant for daytime TV show Countdown, it rocks and it rolls, while name-dropping numerous references to the show and its late presenter Richard Whitely. “Legend is a six-letter word” the band shout in the closing seconds, straight after a re-working of the show’s memorable soundtrack. To pigeonhole what it sounds like is difficult, but think Art Brut having a jam with indie heroes Bearsuit and you’re nearly there.

Luckily, The Retro Spankees have decided to spoil us, and include another A-side on the single. ‘Out Like One’ is musically close to 'Vowel Play', but instead of using _Countdown _as its main theme it focuses on being unashamedly quirky - something backed up by infectious vocal yelps and rock ‘n’ roll guitars. It’s fun, charming, and perfect to dance to.

'Vowel Play' won’t change the way you think about music, but if you’re looking for a few minutes of great pop, look no further. The Retro Spankees have arrived.

  • 8
    Ben Yates's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Drowned in Sound's Albums of the Year 2025


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing



Left-arrow

Clearlake

It's Getting Light Outside

Mobback
14287
14545

The Aggrolites

The Aggrolites

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Drowned in Sound's Albums of the Year 2025

  • 106149
  • news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145

    news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143
  • news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141

    news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139
  • Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138

    Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137
  • Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
MORE


    review


    M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us

  • 7339
  • feature


    Portishead discuss Third

  • 34958

    Interview


    "We became seminal for doing nothing": DiS meet...

  • 88284
  • review


    Sharon van Etten - Are We There

  • 95658

    feature


    Teen idols: M83 all hung up on the retro flicks...

  • 94790
  • Interview


    The ineffable joy of pop: DiS meets Carly Rae J...

  • 101425

    feature


    Fuck Buttons UK tour diary: U2 previews and Sub...

  • 33686
  • feature


    DiS is 6: Our 66, the top six

  • 95297
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND