Foster the People - Torches
Another day, another new indie-pop band. Only, this one is actually enjoying some commercial success - the release of this record, from the Los Angeles quintet, earned them a #8 position on the Billboard albums chart. They've done the usual route to success - performances at South by Southwest and a lot of online buzz has now resulted in the bizarre phenomenon of "bloke in Torquay, capital of cultural abandonment, has heard of them". The opening track 'Helena Beat' is very promising indeed, a loud synth glare that's bolder and grittier than most club efforts, quickly descending into Empire of the Sun -style falsettos and indie rhythms that's very infectious indeed. Their hit single 'Pumped Up Kicks' follows and it's a very nostalgic affair, sounding a little bit like the Yeasayer fondness for simple riffs, background swishes and megaphone vocals. I'm not really as sold with this track as others on the album, it's not particularly the ca...