Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 04/07/05
Label: Necessary Records / Atlantic

If the '90s indie-revolution taught us anything, it's to never get carried away. Just because it's part of a movement doesn't mean it's good. For every Oasis, there will always be a Menswear; for every Blur, chances are, you'll get a Sleeper. With Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, The Bravery, The Departure and everyone else with a taste for '80s fashions and guitars shaping themselves into what could unimaginatively be called New New Wave, it's right to view newcomers with a healthy degree of suspicion; after all, who wants to be caught championing 2005's answer to The Audience?

Mercifully, no such-suspicion is required with Hard-Fi. Even a cursory listen to their anthem-laden debut - which mixes and matches its '80s references with little regard to current playlist-tastes, throwing in twitching guitar stabs, glistening synths and disillusioned dub, more often than not in the same song - confirms that they're leading from the front, not trailing in anyone's wake. Not only are they the genuine article, but with more interest in social commentaries than fashion, they're the rarest of breeds: a band with something to say.

Driven and inspired by singer Richard Archer's loathing for his home town of Staines, "Stars Of CCTV" is a heroic call to arms for anyone trapped in a suburban hell hole. Stomping through the "Nahhh nah nah nah nahhh"s of single "Tied Up Too Tight", Hard-Fi evoke the spirit of The Jam, a rabble rousing chorus and declare their intention to escape the small minds smothering them. With the rest of the album they work their way through all the reasons they want out.

And who could blame them. "Cash Machine" trudges through the depressed town centre, shaking its head at unwanted pregnancies and being strapped for cash; albeit to a uplifting sing-along and Clash-like guitars. "Hard To Beat" takes their taut shuffle to the disco for a night out; "Living For The Weekend" gets tanked-up on keyboards and takes the party outside for a quick brawl in the street, before reaching it's obvious conclusion: a stop at Britain's infamous young offender's institution for "Feltham Is Singing Out".

With the council estate rock of "Unnecessary Trouble" and inevitable, reggae torch song about a two-timing girlfriend, "Better Do Better", Archer's world of Chavs with ASBOs is one that will be all too familiar to millions. For everyone of them, the triumphant "Star's Of CCTV" will be to guitar bands what The Street's "Original Pirate Material" was to the UK urban music: essential listening.

    by Dan Gennoe