When multi-millionaires Radiohead released In Rainbows under their pay what you want scheme, they caused a shift in music distribution. Taking this initiative, the not-so-rich indie bands are hot on their heels and armed with just a website and a Paypal account. Anyone can do this, but for it to work you have to be good. Luckily for The Indelicates, they’re fantastic.

Since 2006, The Indelicates have made their mark as a male-female duo vocaled outfit who deliver sweet melodies with slashing wit and paint-stripping snarls. Early track ‘We Hate The Kids’ is still a terrific slight at popular culture (and always the last track of the night at Hong Kong indie night, Songs for Children, fact fans).

Their second album adds a studio polish to proceedings, making it come across as a strange mix of Springsteen and Pulp. Bad idea on paper but on record provides some sparkling moments. The breakneck indie rock and fist-pumping chorus of ‘Your Money’ is drenched in the sweat of wide-eyed music fans packed into a London club and the critique of modern love in ‘Flesh’ is as cold as the lyrics, yet still gorgeously close.

Bands like The Indelicates are a gamble ‘real’ record companies are no longer willing to take. Now these enterprising bands are going it alone, it’s the big labels’ loss. They can keep the Fratellis and the Kooks, the quality bands are coming out of the sidelines. Download at www.corporaterecords.co.uk

-TC

Tags: Songs for Swinging Lovers, The Indelicates
Posted in Reviews