The Indelicates

Inevitably some members of the family let the Bride down

American Demo (Weekender)

Brighton based political-pop poets The Indelicates may have released the album of the year but will anyone get to hear it outside of Germany?

The Indelicates along with touring buddies Art Brut are the hottest thing on the music scene in Bratwurst land since er.... (mention Hasselhoff and you're sacked – Ed)

Why the Germans have embraced Simon and Julia Indelicate's outfit is anyone's guess (they're about as Germanic as a Russian linesman) but to continue the lazy football theme we would bet that a few St Pauli fans love The Indelicates.

So after a string of memorable singles, their debut LP American Demo makes it into our ears in Blighty. And these are ears starved of poetic punk pop since band mentor and producer Les Carter from cult crusties Carter USM hung up their dogs on strings.

Despite big success in Germany, The Indelicates have built up a fervent following in UK through sheer hard word and fan love. Yes, there was the obligatory MySpace page but how many Lily Allen fans would club together for her to release records?

Thankfully the lush production (strings and all) on the LP came out of the pockets of small indie label Weekender. We hear the budget wasn't much but it sounds like a million Deutschmarks.

There is much to enjoy on this rich, diverse debut, in front of an accomplished band (even better when witnessed live) there are the protagonists Simon and Julia Indelicate who are a couple, apparently.

As the lyrics show quite remarkably, The Indelicates give voice to two formidable young poets. Simon and Julia actually met at a poetry slam (which he won). Simon was a performance poet and songwriter for several years before forming the band.

Each has a distinct voice, Julia's is sweet (Sixteen) Simon recalls his hero Jim Bob of Carter USM (Last Significant Statement To Be Made In Rock and Roll).

This juxtaposition is hammered home in the standout track Unity Mitford, where vocal duties are shared in a heartbreaking ode.

At times this album is unfashionable, the opening guitar solo in recent single America is fittingly rawk, and the almighty crescendo of America's final chorus wouldn't feel out of place on a West End stage – but it’s beguilingly brilliant.

The Album is titled American Demo, because as Simon says, most LPs these days are from bands who just want to appease big Stateside behemoths by releasing box-ticking clichéd rock.

The brutal, thought provoking and often funny lyrics (You’re middle class, I’ll let it pass) defy the box tickers but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t new appropriate fans in droves – even those who have heeded the warning of final track We Hate the Kids.

At the very least it should be great cannon fodder for album number 2.

We say: We hate the kids too but like The Indelicates.

They say: 'It’s impossible to overstate how much music today needs The Indelicates; in our darkest hour, hope may yet be at hand'– The Fly

Best Track: Unity Mitford – Throat lumping ode.

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