Pleasing new bands compilation.
Its easy to get quite insular about music, with so many scenes popping up here, there and everywhere there is a tendency to be overwhelmed by it all and at times only focus on what's going on in your back door. The Burn Burn compilation attempts to rectify this and whilst it does contain some of the current hot tips from the UK, the inclusion of similar rated acts from around the globe gives the compilation some interest level over and above the launching of new indie acts.
With such a varied collection it's tricky for the album to get a full head of steam but that's not really the point of the compilation. With something for everything, there is likely to be at least something for everything even if that means some of the songs don't suit the listener at all.
This is no bad thing, with tracks like 'Kids' by The Heartstrings coming across as delightful evoking memories of Elliot Smith, such is the way the vocals quietly plead and rise over a pleasing and soothing backdrop. The variety in the record is proved by the following 'Last Trip Around The Sun' by The Spicolis which spits and snarls in an angry manner.
From Dustin Bar Mitzvahs snotty nosed punk offering to the Crush Luther, whose 'Rudy' sounds suspiciously like Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger', the different styles here fails to hold the record together. Thankfully, the fairly high level of song writing is the corner stone of the record and there aren't many songs that will have you reaching for the off switch.
With Get Cape. Wear Cape Fly closing the album with a slow-burning acoustic track with an electro glitch backing, the first thought is to start the album going again and try to take it in. And as a showcase for new bands and material, surely its main objective has been met.
Perhaps someone might want to email the NME but this compilation appears to be lacking in New Rave material, I'm sure they could work out a remix for one of the songs though seeing as its their things at the moment. That's not a go at these bands labelled New Rave (a terrible name as well) as this writer is greatly looking forward to the Glasgow leg of the tour but the way that bands who don't combine indie and dance have seemingly been discarded, jars too much. Compilations like this, whilst being slightly hit and miss in its delivery, at least retains the variety to pass onto a new audience.