Hmmm...this is STRANGE. In truth, your reviewer couldn't previously consider himself an expert where Chorlton, Manchester's ALFIE are concerned, but "Stuntman" could well be the one to get him onside, even though major doses of psychedelics would undoubtedly be handy in gaining absolute understanding.
"Stuntman" - apt title, considering the ever-shifting, risk-taking soundscape that runs amok in little over 3 minutes - is really something else. Kicking off like Crosby, Stills and Nash paddling in the Manchester Ship Canal, it quickly blasts into some endearingly arse-over-tit riffing beloved of Pavement circa "Brighten The Corners" and jumps through some magnificently weird'n'wonderful lyrical hoops (sample lyric: "Hey, I'm a human kangaroo, I'll jump for you...throw me into territories new") en route to sonic heaven via harpsichords, glittering four-way harmonies and all manner of weird shit you didn't expect for one second.
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Quite simply aeons away from the spurious 'new acoustic movement' they got lumped in with thanks to our ever-dozing NME, Chorlton's favouite bohemians are busily upping their ante. Let's hope it continues with their imminent third album, as "Stuntman" is the sound of death-defying leaps being accomplished by the skin of the partcipants' teeth. Surely that's what we want from our best bands, eh?
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