Born Ruffians - 'Born Ruffians EP' (XL) Released 30/10/06

Sounding exactly like a Surfer Rosa era Pixies, Born Ruffians are the kind of shouty indie nutters the music world has been crying out for. The slightly hysterical vocals of ‘This Sentence Will Run/Save Your Life', lends them a quirky affability that has earnt them spreads in various fashionable magazines. ‘Hedonistic  Me’ is like a Canadian Kooks, if they were a bit more restrained with their cheery poppy vibe. Using a Bob Dylan style refrain and choppy shouting interludes it shambles along rather nicely. Each song has its own unique quality ‘Piecing It Together’ staggers around drunkenly bumping into things, building to a rousing pitch. It combines classic indie guitars and military style rolling drums, proving that simple things done well work out best. ‘I’m One Of Those Girls’ is a cautionary tale for young girls who are obsessed by the world of celebrity and the men only too willing to take advantage of them. Angry, pained shouts mix with deep rhythmic bass lines that demand to be danced to ‘Merry Little Fancy Things, while off-key female sounding vocals give 7th Son an uneasy, offbeat edge. Signed to the same label as The White Stripes, lets hope these Canadian upstarts will be allowed the same free rein to create their own unique brand of craziness.