Nice one, another wicked single from THE YOUNG KNIVES, full of vitriol and angst that you only get from being young, skinny and able to wield a guitar like an axe whilst sporting tweed jackets, and get away with it.
“Here Comes The Rumour Mill” is angst ridden and punky, and desperately teenage – “Here comes the rumour bell, and I’m not even trying” – ok, let’s bat the obligatory descriptives about: *adopts the voice of authority* yes, well they are definitely what is known as ‘angular’ and ‘Spiky’, juxtaposed with ‘lush harmonies’, and ‘elements of psychedelia’, cough. OK, hands up who didn’t already know that?
Joyfully discordant, eccentric and interesting, you’ve got to love ‘em. The opening chords are distinctly Spinal Tap, but they can get away with it cause ‘Here Comes the Rumour Mill’ is such an ace tune. We’re not looking for words of wisdom, no overtly wry social observations, just pure guitar-orientated fun. They sound slightly like The Mystery Jets in places, but it doesn’t come across as intentional so they can be forgiven.
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“Kitchener” is a tad more angry, with joyfully demented vocals and illogical sounding guitar riffs (the chaos, the unpredictability – they’re deep in the Ju Ju), whereas ‘Elaine’ is a more gentle skiffle ballad, reminiscent of The Small Faces, and Carter. Nice use of whistling in the background as well. It has a genuine naïve charm, “Elaine, Elaine, Elaine, Elaine, hello/ Please don’t see my faults and make me go”, bringing out the mothering instinct full force. It also ends with a Kylie Minogue-esque la la la, la la la laaa laaaaaa, but a bit more heavenly. Class.
The EP closes with the somewhat ominously titled, “We Are The Also Rans”, its noisy, weird and doesn’t quite make sense, wonderful stuff. Maybe getting a bit jazz-punk in places, and it perhaps pushes the eccentricness too much, but who cares? Fabulousness indeedy.
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