Angular recordings have a nice idea; put out a compilation CD entitled ‘Future Love Songs’ to shift some units and hopefully create some new stars while at it. It is a mixed bag quality wise but the music is of a similar formula throughout; indie-pop. Some acts like the rather hyperactive sounding Lost Penguin are likely to cause some divide in opinion. The best description is the one the label provide us with; ‘Punk, electro, pop, indie lunacy.’ It is one that literally bounces off all your walls, into one ear, out of the other before ending up falling on the floor hyperventilating (probably).
Elsewhere there is much to shout about, The Lodger produce delightfully romantic pop music akin to Idlewild if they were much happier. They also rival current acts like Mumm-ra. The lyrics are beautifully crafted (“you climb into a boxing ring, happy endings just aren’t your thing”) while the guitar and bass are simple and yet hugely satisfying. The album also attempts to drop a large dollop of the new rave in there as well. Twisted Charm open the compilation with a rather scatty lyrical outlook and instruments borrowed straight out of Klaxons recording studio. They sound like indie-rave-pop and then go really crazy with electronics and a randomly placed saxophone. Indeed the album is so odd and off kilter at times that ‘Future Love Songs’ completely loses its thread a lot. You will probably be wondering whether the love theme of the title actually contributes to some of the tracks and in fairness it does but generally in an indirect way.
The two most recognisable names on the compilation, The Long Blondes and Klaxons, provide two of the most directly love orientated tracks and raise the quality significantly. The Blondes sound marvellously sassy and chic in ‘Lust In The Movies’ and yet retain their outstanding pop element. Klaxons meanwhile represent the highlight with their spiky rave-pop number ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’. Fantastically catchy, it is the strongest of their early tracks and should get a re-release once Klaxons have penetrated the mainstream to the full.
If you think the similar thread of indie-pop means this compilation will be narrow you are dramatically mistaken, this is a collection of music which at times makes as much sense as a barrel of badgers and yet has an addictive pop rush to it.
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