Lupen Crook - 'Love 80' (Tap N Tin) Released 20/03/06

Having reaped plentiful plaudits with his hyperactively eccentric (think Roy Harper with ADD), acid-tongued and foul-mouthed antidote to James Blunt's irksomely bland ilk, Lupen Crook's third single offers a plugged-in two-finger salute to anyone who's tucked the nasally-toned Londoner in the decibel-dodging bracket for acoustic guitar-hogging singer-songwriters. Armed with hooks galore, beats a-plenty and angular attitude to spare, the pummeling, compulsively catchy 'Love 80' reins in the Lupe's more unfocused quirks to deliver a fearsome first-round KO to anyone sniffing around indie disco dancefloors with high hopes of the hit parade, the effect of which is akin to a giant mirrorball whistling Radiohead's 'Idioteque' making an appearance at an unplugged session. The B-sides offer more familiar thrills, but can’t help sounding a bit old hat next to ‘Love 80’s expert lesson in elevating one's status beyond the lowly levels of a marginal cult concern sans compromises. “What’s your name,” goes the central chant. At this rate, everyone will soon be fully familiar with that of Lupen Crook.