Indie Art-Rock
Songs whose titles name football legends of the past have somewhat of a chequered history. The Others' 'Stan Bowles' sounds like something that Pete Doherty would throw up at the nadir of his crack addiction. Brand New's serene 'Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis' is actually quite beautiful, before it becomes clear that the protagonist is casually discussing a date-rape. And don't even start on 'Simply the Best'...
Art-pop youngsters Guildean Gang look to revive this downward trend with their impressive debut single 'Dennis Bergkamp', a lo-fi anthem in the vein of Interpol, had they come from Bedfordshire, or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs if they just chilled out a little.
An atmospheric drum pattern introduces the track, with a chiming guitar part counting in the stuttering vocal line, infused with a nervous energy that will surely translate contagiously when played live. This leads to an infectiously paranoid chorus, “All the walls are talking, about what they're watching,” soon to be echoing round the bedrooms of misunderstood indie-kids country-wide. The careful blend of a few contrasting styles, renders Guildean Gang sounding at once like the sum of so many influences and yet like no one else on the current indie soundscape.
The B-side, 'Tales of the Tree' is less innovative, yet still engaging, a sprawling blues-funk jam with a verse faintly evocative of Outkast's 'Ms. Jackson'. Charlie Stone's reverb-soaked vocals have a raw, whiskey-ravaged edge, while containing an endearing lisp that belies his tender years, sounding like Tom Waits' great-great-great-grandson.
Dodgy song titles aside, Guildean Gang look set to score big in the future.