FRED ABBOTT

Noah and the Whale were the Marmite of indie-pop weren't they? Whereas I have no issue wolfing down a few slices of the much-reviled yeasty spread, I always develop a nervous twitch when NATW entered my ear-space. Perhaps firing a harpoon through my chin might cheer me up somewhat. Listening to Serious Poke certainly hasn't. A quick journey back with the time-machine set at 1984, we're in Bruce Springsteen territory here, with a soupçon of the Stones, bad-era Lou Reed, Southside Johnny and any other fist-pumpin' American rawk outfit you care to mention. It's all capably handled by all involved but honestly, who needs to revisit that part of the eighties again?

Paul PLEDGER
21/07/2015