Listening to their debut, it’s not hard to work out why this Northern Irish trio have become the tour support du jour for lad-rock bands: it ensures the headliners aren’t blown offstage. They’re [a]The Enemy[/a] minus the political bite (‘I’m Not Eyes’), [a]The Pigeon Detectives[/a] with their goon-pop fun beaten out (‘Dancing With Girls’), One Night fucking Only sleepwalking through some shit B-side (‘Talk To My Friends’). ‘Buildings’ is standard beer-tin-for-a-head stuff – low IQ hooks, lowest-common-denominator lyrics about getting pissed, guitars tuned to ‘instantly forgettable’. Most depressing of all? It’s a full two years too late for the landfill indie gravy train. Enjoy your six months partying like it’s 2008, lads.
Rick Martin