Consisting of former Power Of Dreams, Pharmacy and Archive man Craig Walker and French music-makers Thierry Fournie, Sophie Armell and Damien Li, cerebral electropop types Mineral were born in 2012. Bonded by big ambitions and even bigger ideas, their lush melodies and sprawling soundscapes quickly caught the ear of one Alan McGee, who signed them to his new label, and this issue they unveil their ten track debut album Plastic Ekphrastic.
Described by the ex-Creation Records mogul as “electric music made by rock ‘n’ roll people,” the opus is an inventive and imaginative effort occupying a similar musical territory to the likes of Air, Stereolab and Le Tigre (album opener ‘Serial Monkey’ has a stunning chorus that’s reminiscent of Kathleen Hanna at her most melodic) the album straddles many styles from prog pop on the epic 13-minute ‘Atoms,’ to electro-tinged art rock on ‘Stone’. ‘Love Divine’ is an undeniable highlight thanks to a super-cool hook, some quick stabs of industrial noise and lyrics that are the right side of sweet, and the salacious and hypnotic ‘’Mi-Clos’ gives it a close run for its money. Give it a NOW

Key Track: 'Love Divine'