Rolling Blackouts

If you’re one of the multitude who found 2010 an absolute drag and – post-New Year’s Eve piss-up – you’ve begun to fret that the next 12 months will be another suck-fest, then worry no more. The Go! Team’s third album Rolling Blackouts is the type of record that could make even the most miserable killjoy crack a smile or three. An unashamedly pop-driven album, the cut and paste heroes are in fine fettle for their first release in three years and everything you’ve ever loved about the Brighton band is present and correct, only, y’know, better.
Indeed Rolling Blackouts is more than a mere refinement of the band’s sound – rather, it’s a statement of intent, The Go! Team shaping up as if they might just be reaching the peak of their powers. ‘T.O.R.N.A.D.O.’ is a super-silky power-house piece of indie-infused hip hop; the Slumber Party meets Showaddywaddy mash-up of ‘Ready To Go Steady’, featuring sublime guest vocals from Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino is a cracker and ‘Secretary Song’ is a great tribute to the J-pop scene. Ms Cosentino also returns for highlight of the album ‘Buy Nothing Day’, which has HUGE stamped all over it. While there are a couple of lesser tracks (‘Super Triangle,’ ‘Lazy Poltergeist’) the energy rarely dips and BND is a joy to listen to. If you buy nothing else all day, buy it...