180

Sound DNA

• Alt/Indie
• Indie Rock

• raw
• rowdy
• punky

About

Grab this debut from England's Palma Violets, and when the backlashing naysayers start their whining, just put your earbuds in and stomp-dance into the sunset. Palma Violets' sound is rich with history (The Velvet Underground, The Doors, even Iggy) yet firmly modern (British Sea Power, Vaccines, Toy). It's a smart, riotous blend of then and now, carefully balancing somber and ecstatic, bombastic and brooding. With the pounding, essential single "Best of Friends" zipping up the British charts like a rat with its tail on fire, you might not expect the rest of the album to have the same oomph. But it does: "Rattlesnake Highway" and "We Found Love" soar on grimy, distorted pop pretensions; "Tom the Drum" thumps and swoops with a goofy menace. Tunes like "Last of the Summer Wine" and "Step Up for the Cool Cats" unfold with the swirling, slow build of a Galaxie 500 or Spiritualized tune, eventually blooming into psych-pop brilliance. Key to the Violets' success are Chilli Jesson's throbbing bass lines and rich voice and the expressive, soulful organ work of Pete Mayhew.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits