Straight In No Kissing

For months past it’s been almost impossible to avoid Dirty Epics’ frenetic punk-pop single ‘The Cure’ on the more knowing radio and TV programmes. It’s made a tempting trailer for this debut, which from the off reflects the same energy and “no surrender” commitment to cute pop melodies wrapped in a power-punk persona.
The title ,Straight In No Kissing sums it up, as the album gets to the point from the off, spitting you out exhausted after eleven frenzied tracks and 34 minutes of red bull rock and skull-crunching riffs. The vocal pyrotechnics of Sarah Jane Wai O’Flynn ooze raunch’n’roll and charisma in equal measures. ‘The Cure’ is still as energising as ever, even in the album’s ultra competitive environment. The new single ‘Way Too Pretty’ marries the eccentricities of Devo with the exuberance of the B52s, and ‘Dirty Dog’ adds the menace of The Doors to an already sizzling stew. The monstrous ‘Overrated’ oozes cynicism, while ‘We’re Coming Up’ could be a wry look at pop stardom, and the punchy ‘Pony’ tears it up in grand style.
Having a sensual female singer means comparisons with Blondie are nigh on inevitable, but Dirty Epics opt for a kind of “get out of my way” relentlessness that owes more to The Stooges and The Sex Pistols. Theirs is not rock as a meaning-of-life mission statement, but rock as fun and games until somebody loses an eye. A very impressive debut...