Palace Fires - 'Never Gonna Get Away' (Bespoke) Released 04/12/06

They may currently be enjoying a well-deserved stint as Myspace's featured artist, but thankfully there's no cod-reggae Lily Allen-isms wafting about this bunch. Instead, following a punchy woodblock-laden intro, Ed Bannard, Palace Fires' stubble-chinned singing urchin speedily lures us into the feisty, harmonious world of 'Never Gonna Get Away.' Beckoning us to “sit a little closer, I can feel you there, your breath upon my shoulder,” the song grabs, tugs and eventually tames like a lusty, snatched grope up against a sturdy forest Oak. Jostling into an enthusiastic, guitar-laden power chorus, Ed relays his struggle to unclamp his grip from an uncontrollable, fleshy obsession, before red-facedly stumbling back to the calmer, more resigned sound of the original flirty intro. All something of a pleasant, hair-messing experience that, yes please, I wouldn't mind doing again - and maybe again after that - thankyou very much. Somewhat less energetic is the B-side 'Lonely Feeling,' which, despite its sweet, jazzy shuffle, veers towards one-too-many-Cough-Candies - it's catchiness a toss-up between irritating and an affectionate grower. Root around in the rest of Palace Fires' prime stock to find gems worthy of their burgeoning popuarity.