Having previously bequeathed a string of weird, but brilliant indie oddities such as Yeah Yeah Noh and Prolapse, Leicester sounds like it's come up trumps again with the curiously-monikered redcarsgofaster.
The quintet's debut single comes to us in limited edition 7" form thanks to the fine people at Manchester's High Voltage Sounds, and it presents us with two stinging volleys of sound, both of which suggest this lot have a way of harnessing drama to Earth-moving pop tunes and have learnt plenty from their recent support slots with the likes of Battle, Forward, Russia! and iLikETRAINS.
"Sanctuary" is the lead track and it's surely a goodie, being driven along by urgent guitars, descriptive synths and militaristic drums. Vocalist James Summers has a strangely arresting vocal style that veers alarmingly between wry and guttural that has already drawn Mark.E.Smith comparions. I can kinda see that, although he also recalls the likes of Robert Forster and Dub Sex's Mark Hoyle at times to these ears. Indeed, the fact he's singing menacing, noir-ish stuff like "I know I'll hurt that girl just because I can" only adds to the song's eerie premise.
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Second tune "Without Measure" ain't bad, neither. This one's got big, Chameleons-y guitars and Summers' semi-sung, semi-spoken vocals adding an effective, jarring counterpoint. The band try to force the pace, but Summer remains unruffled and seemingly in his own world as he repeats the line "Leave me along with a smile." It's odd and slightly disturbing, but you know soon enough that you'd like to hear more, so let's not ask too many searching questions for now.
redcarsgofaster, then, are clearly contenders to watch as they whizz the wrong way down the indie intersection. Make sure you get their number plate details and report 'em to the other dedicated indie vehicle spotters out there tout suite.
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