My colleague Sam Saunders has cogently referred to Huddersfield's INSTANT SPECIES as "Pennine KINKS…closet power-popsters" and listening to "THE TAKE AWAY EP" I can see exactly what he's driving at as the four tracks here suggest that INSTANT SPECIES are a proud and convincing chip off the distinctly British power pop block.
Whether or not your reviewer's setting himself an impossible task, it's a private mission of his to re-introduce great power pop to the masses and INSTANT SPECIES are an example of how to make traditional guitar pop sound vibrant, exciting and of the present.
Lead-off track "Give The Girl A Chance" is probably the most immediate tune, with great buzzing riffs giving way to a chorus that (rightly) gets reloaded over and over. It's one you're guaranteed to return to, such is its' infectious quality.
"Getting You" is another itchy slice of riff-driven BUZZCOCKS-Y pop, with great urgent vocals from RICK GARNETT and the kind of twangy Rickenbacker basslines that always go down a treat round here.
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"Coup De Grace" and the closing "I'm OK, I'm Alright" are both far more ambitious, though. "Coup De Grace" is slower, semi-acoustic and dripping with poise. If COLDPLAY had recorded it, this would probably already be nestling in the Top 20, whilst the closing "I'm OK, I'm Alright" is the showstopper, carrying us away via piano-led atmospherics and an aura of early BOWIE bravado.
INSTANT SPECIES are familiar, but far from derivative. Take away "THE TAKE AWAY EP" from your local at your earliest convenience.
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