With all this talk of a Britpop revival (Kaiser Chiefs, The Kooks and The Fratellis all hark back musically to that mid-90s genre), it's refreshing to come across a band who are unlikely to ever wrap themselves in the Union Jack. In fact, Larrikin Love are utterly fed up with Blair's Britain and don't mind telling you so.
"This country means nothing to me, everything I adore comes well before 1984" could have been penned by Morrissey, but are instead the words of Edward Larrikin, a man quickly building up a reputation as a bit of a genius. A highlight of their live set for some time, the studio version of Downing Street Kindling gives us the chance to examine Larrikin's lyrics a bit closer. And what lyrics they are - slightly surreal (talk of lying on pebbly beaches eating cigarettes), disaffected ("England has nothing more to offer me") and angry (offering Tony Blair the chance to warm his feet after burning down the door to Downing Street).
It's all set to a gloriously hook-filled tune that you'll never grow tire of hearing, and is yet more proof that Larrikin Love are the most exciting new band to emerge this year. Roll on the album.
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