Considering their name, the fact they've been touring relentlessly with Peter Doherty/ Babyshambles and have signed (along with kindred spirits The Others and Thee Unstrung) to Alan McGee's Poptones imprint, it's still hard to credit that THE PADDINGTONS actually hail from Hull. Their (self) mythology seems inextricably bound up in the whole East End urchin rock scene.
Previously, too, W&H have borne witness to a couple of awful-going-on-dire live performances from this shambolic quintet, and their runty retro racket suggested they would forever be written off as also-rans.
Yet, it's remarkable what wish fulfilment can do, because The Paddingtons' second single "Panic Attack" (follow up to the unlikely chart success of their first double A-side, no less) is actually quite palatable. Produced with suitably seat-of-the-pants glory by ex-Oasis/ Ash deskmeister Owen Morris, "Panic Attack" opens with the memorable opening gambit "You wanna die? Go on, commit suicide!" and lurches along with spiteful, punky attitude. It's rougher than a crateload of brillo pads, but not without a certain scabrous charm and is all the better for reversing its' intial nihilism with the kiss-off line " You wanna live, don't you? Well, I do too!" Hurrah!
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The Paddingtons are hardly earthshaking and their rough-arsed guitar stylings are rooted pretty firmly in 1977, but for all that "Panic Attack" ain't half bad. They've earned the benefit of the doubt for now, at least.
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