Fu**in' immense. Already recognised as one of the most vital live bands currently out there Sona Fariq have now succeeded in capturing that immediate visceral thrill in the studio on this their debut album. From the opening salvo of 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' riffing that opens 'Drop the Bomb', through to its police siren fade-out, Sona Fariq are a foot-to-the-floor, screw-the-consequences joyride right from the off. Dogs bark and howl and drums pound like locked doors being kicked in, 'Love you Crazy' will make your head spin like a bubble in the bloodstream, 'We Be On Fire' is a self-evident statement of searing intent.
Further proof that multi-cultural and eclectic are no longer just chin-stroking bywords for all-over-the-bloody-place Sona Fariq are the true simmering sound of a young, urban Britain at unease with itself. Now that a suitable critical distance allows us to view Britpop as the dress-up-like-your-dad retrogressive exercise in wankery it always was a new modern sound is emerging; a furious young Britain more likely to torch our dear old flag than make any naive attempts towards reclaiming the fu**er and sticking it on a guitar.
The Cult, Asian Dub Foundation, Thin Lizzy, The Beasties, A Homeboy a Hippie and a Funkie Dread, Funkadelic, The Stooges, Fun-Da-Mental. If only one of these shit-hot lot are to be found in your haphazardly ramshackle and coffee-cup ringed CD collection then you're sure to find something thrillingly hip-twitching about Sona Fariq. Buy this and the summer might just yet ignite.
