Newcastle's MAXIMO PARK appear to have it cracked before you even hear a note. I mean, you only have to tick off their cred list: Regular NME interest? Check: Hipper than hip producer? Yes indeedy (it's Paul Epworth of Bloc Party/ Futureheads/ Babyshambles fame): The currently de rigeur jerky post-punk moves? Goes without saying, surely. Well, that's that decided then. Pass go and collect your first Top 40 hit.
Yet, however ancient this makes me sound, your reviewer can only wonder that it's enough to build a career that will last. I mean, "Apply Some Pressure"s a natty enough tune: it has enthusiasm seeping through its' very pores and more fizzy energy than a crateload of Lucozade isotonic sport, yet somehow I ca't help feeling its' thrill will fade just as quickly. For one thing, the herky-jerky execution when aligned with Paul Smith's (admittedly likeable) yelp is so similar to The Futureheads' sound you almost need to call in the plagiarism police the way Wire did with Elastica.
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It's not necessarily a problem on a quick-blast basis like with these two songs (flipside "Fear Of Falling" is another effervescent two minute grenade), but to be honest what was sounding box-fresh when we first encountered the likes of The Futureheads and Stellastarr* is beginning to sound dangerously formulaic at this stage. Their album will need to break more ground if these young pups are on the longevity trail.
One thing that doesn't add up, mind: what are Maximo Park doing on envelope-shoving electro label Warp? It's by some way the most intriguing part of the puzzle thus far.
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