202s

A band that names themselves after a sequencer wouldn’t normally be my thing, but you know what? 202s self-titled debut is actually damn good. At first glance they might seem like a nerdy guitar/synth outfit, but the Limerick duo have it down that good songs and great melodies are the key to songwriting. What’s more they stray well away from any Kraftwerk-derived template, with the harmonica on ‘Shoot You Down’ adding an almost Dylanesque touch. There’s a distinctly Velvet Underground-influenced psych folk flavour to ‘Who Cares About Sunshine’, which features Carly Sings in the Nico role. And the instrumental ‘Pressure’, crossing Air with Enio Morricone, might well find itself in a Tarantino soundtrack. Boasting traces elsewhere of Eno, the Stone Roses and Can, among other hip influences, this is a highly intriguing record, with some nifty studio trickery adding to the sense of sonic experimentation. 202s is definitely a grower: give it time and you’ll find that there are many rewards to be had.

Key Track: ‘Not Guilty’