Tokyo Police Club - ‘A Lesson In Crime’ (Memphis Industries) Released 12/02/07

So, these young Canadian punks think they can come over to our shores and teach us a lesson in crime, do they? Cheeky little bastards. Britain’s rock and pop stars are the daddies of the musical underworld, and don’t you skinny-arsed slaaaags forget it. Mark Morrison, he’s done bird. George Michael? Lights up and don’t give a ****. Ian Brown – he’ll chop yer hands off mate.

However, TPC can show us a thing or two when it comes to ram-raiding our shop-fronts with manically catchy garage pop. Yes, they do boast a few small-time criminal credentials (Exhibit A – one stolen Casablancas growl), but the charge sheet is well and truly ripped up when the unrestrained blast of youthfulness that is the chorus of ‘Cheer It On’ tears out of the stereo.

Part of the reason this mini-album works so instantly is that so much of it sounds quite familiar. There’s the raging hormones of Be Your Own Pet. There’s the clattering disco thrash of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The pumping organs of The Walkman and an unethical number of The Strokes’ genes.

But as with so much of the best rock ‘n’ roll, what should sound depressingly derivative turns out to be more revitalising than being hosed down with ice-cold adrenaline. The robotic New Romantic synths of ‘Shoulders And Arms’ soar like a sexed-up Editors, ‘Citizens Of Tomorrow’ tells a Terminator-ish tale over a lo-fi organ-driven lament and ‘La Ferrassie’ takes ****ed-up Deerhoof exotica to a ballistic and building close.

“Operator! Get me the president of the world – this is an emergency!” So screams this record’s introduction, vocalist David Monks’ eyes and veins no doubt bulging wildly as he warns the world of his band’s apocalyptic landing. It’s a statement of intent reaching for Bowie’s Diamond Dogs, falling only a little short. But that’s the ambition of Tokyo Police Club – music that aims high and gets there through sheer primal force and belief. Brace yourself for the crime wave.