Stricken City - Songs About People I Know
For a band who declare their influences to be Sonic Youth and Talking Heads they do well to hide them.
Stricken City release their mini album this autumn, looking to restore everyone's faith in indie pop. They may have just succeeded.
'Gifted' opens proceedings - a cappella, and recorded on... a bus. It's interesting but after a few listens very skipable. 'Pull Down The House' is far easier to digest and it's from here that 'Songs About People I Know' starts to swing into action. Outside of the slower tracks on offer there are a couple of gems here. For a band who declare their influences to be Sonic Youth and Talking Heads they do well to hide them.
Stricken City are pure mid-90s Britpop, more in common with Sleeper and Echobelly than any American alternative act. 'Small Things' could easily have been a cut off of the latter's debut, and the album's masterstroke '5 metres Apart' is rooted in the best elements of British pop. Much like Vimto, which is exactly what Stricken City are - a decent pop outfit that will never really make waves but will be a pleasant taste for the few who discover it.
Not quite an EP, not quite an album, this is the sound of a band not quite ready on their first draft. The final version should really be something special.
Subscribe to the Clickmusic News Feed
