Bikini Kill, rewritten by the Ramones and spat out by Cable. The elements are there. But despite a personal-political lyrical edginess, after a while you need to deliver on your promises of what a good time weıre gonna have. Disappointingly, Brassy are all manifesto mouth and no dancing trousers.
Mark Lawsonıs novel Idlewild offered an alternative American history, unaffected by the incident on the grassy knoll. Likewise, Idlewild the band suggest how things might have been, had British indie-rock not been affected by the insolence of the arsey Noel. Heirs to the Weddoes and the Boo Radleys, the new stuff sounds not unlike the old stuff, but at least its their own bolshy petulance theyıre quoting. They seem to know its time to move on - tonightıs ³I see shapes...² sounds bored, though spirited. Theyıve conquered indie. So now what?
Lomax 28-03-00
