Codeine Velvet Club

Normally sounding like a mix of Wizzard and Showaddywaddy is enough to make this reviewer run for the hills, but in the hands of Jon Lawler (frontman for The Fratellis) and his partner-in-crime Lou Hickey it’s a match made in heaven. Inspired by ’50s glamour and ’70s pop, their debut is a brass-fuelled Burt Bacharach-fan’s wet dream. The vocal interplay between Jon and Lou is near perfect and while at times the retro sounds are a little laboured (‘Like A Full Moon’) for the most part this is one time-warp we’d like to do again.
Edwin McFee
Key Track: ‘Vanity Kills’