The debut record by Manchester’s Spring King is rooted in classic garage
rock. Scattered and chaotic drum beats,
100 mile an hour guitar (backed by a rumbling bass and, occasionally, some
blaring trumpets), this is all great fun. Spring
King rarely let up (though when they do, on the likes of ‘Take Me Away’,
they show that they can turn their hand equally well to beautiful, stripped-down psychedelia
– albeit with a lyrical focus on the injustices of Thatcherism that would be more
at home on one of the other, rockier, tracks on the record). MC5 are definitely a touchstone,
but in amongst the DIY garage rock noise, there are also nods to the Beach Boys, Arcade Fire and even Elton
John (who’s a big fan of, and has been a major advocate for, this band – it’s
clear why). Much will depend on whether
Spring King can sustain this level of quality on a second album (Tell Me If You Like To feels like it was made with nothing held
back), but on this evidence at least, they are major new contenders. And having your drummer double as your lead
singer is just cool.
sample track: City