The Daddy of Them All

Review by Darren Kerr

I seem to have a soft spot for all the legions of British pop bands that are appearing out of the ether at an incredibly high rate. It might be because I've been known to affect a Monty Python accent at the drop of a kipper, but it's probably because the Brit bands have a good grasp of melody, that classic pop song magic that carries on from bands like Mott the Hoople, Badfinger and even Jilted John.

Space Monkeys blanket their melodies with a thick froth of screamedelia. Guitars clash with clever synthesizers, over which instrument is God. There is no clear winner, as the vocalist enters the fray and declares a stalemate. "March of the Scarecrows" has a cool break where the synths twang like elastic bands while raising in pitch. "Acid House Killed Rock and Roll" is a sprawling free-for-all that injects treble straight into your brain.

Not overly original, but a worthwhile listen if you mourn the passing of the Manchester sound, or if you think Oasis don't have enough groove.