![Review: Hatcham Social - About Girls [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/3/9/8/5/about_girls.jpg)
![Review: Hatcham Social - About Girls [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F3%2F9%2F8%2F5%2Fabout_girls.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
Hatcham Social’s newest release, About Girls is a long overdue one. 2009 saw their debut album receive a positively strong response, and now the alternative quartet based in London are ready to hit back with the follow up to You Dig The Tunnel, I’ll Hide The Soul. Their revamped line-up features newest members David Claxton (guitar) and Riley Difford (bass) joining the original members Toby Kidd (vocals, guitar) and Finn Kidd (drums, vocals). They have all kept busy since their debut became an acclaimed success; Finn Kidd has drummed for The Charlatans, whilst the others have been supporting The Maccabee’s, Good Shoes and Pete & The Pirates.
Released via Fierce Panda records, About Girls is out 2nd April, with ‘I Look Like A God When You Dance With Me’ being the first single to come from the album out 23rd April. Highly recommended by critics of NME, Q and BBC Music, the predominantly guitar heavy tracks move away from the synth sheen of their previous LP. The members see About Girls to be focused heavily on more concise lyrics that are honest and based on real life.
The LP shows off the bands infatuation with the post-punk revival. It demonstrates heavy similarities with tracks by The Charlatans, and even in some places The Cure. Toby Kidd likens his style of vocal as that of Faris Badwan of The Horrors, yet he fails to match up to Badwan's emotive demeanor.
'NY Girls' is a powerful good start to the album, however it is the following tracks 'Nicola Tells Me', 'Like An Animal' and 'Little Savage' that stand out as the highlights for me. 'Like An Animal' provides an electric guitar to be the most positive aspect of the track, making it one of the most catchy off the album. 'Lois Lane' gives off happy and upbeat vibes, yet 'Nicola Tells Me' see's Hatcham Social show off their mellow, love song-esque side. 'Little Savage' ooses with influential sounds of The Kinks, clearly a massive inspiration, with both the music and lyrics setting in deep emotions from the foursome.
It was difficult to rate their next single highly as it didn't come close to the quality of the aforementioned tracks. They could have easily chosen one of many from the LP that contain more substance - I didn't find there was much to it. As didn't 'Escape From London'. It became lost in parts with its slow guitar riffs clashing with the quick pace of the choruses.
It's as though About Girls has time traveled through from the 70s and 80s and into the 21st century, where the mainstream consists of euro beats and hip hop combining and creating hit after hit. This LP grew on me. The tracks weaken with time; the band seem to lose touch of their substance and spirited fun nature as the last three are worth skipping. 'All Summer Long', 'Stick Together' and 'Someone Else’s You' are worth skipping, and I can even go as far as saying the last couple of minutes got a cheeky fast forward. It cannot be argued that the music industry has a lot more talented artists showing off their skills of reworking the post-punk era than Hatcham Social manages to do, like The Horrors and The Strokes. However they do demonstrate that they aren’t taking themselves too seriously with a bit of playful lyrics, girl related angst lyrics and some solid guitar rock tracks.
Their headline UK tour kicks off 2nd April in Coventry and runs through up until 19th April ending in Wakefield.
About Girls is out now, and the single 'I Look Like God When You Dance With Me' is out 23rd April.
Worth Listening To...
Released via Fierce Panda records, About Girls is out 2nd April, with ‘I Look Like A God When You Dance With Me’ being the first single to come from the album out 23rd April. Highly recommended by critics of NME, Q and BBC Music, the predominantly guitar heavy tracks move away from the synth sheen of their previous LP. The members see About Girls to be focused heavily on more concise lyrics that are honest and based on real life.
The LP shows off the bands infatuation with the post-punk revival. It demonstrates heavy similarities with tracks by The Charlatans, and even in some places The Cure. Toby Kidd likens his style of vocal as that of Faris Badwan of The Horrors, yet he fails to match up to Badwan's emotive demeanor.
'NY Girls' is a powerful good start to the album, however it is the following tracks 'Nicola Tells Me', 'Like An Animal' and 'Little Savage' that stand out as the highlights for me. 'Like An Animal' provides an electric guitar to be the most positive aspect of the track, making it one of the most catchy off the album. 'Lois Lane' gives off happy and upbeat vibes, yet 'Nicola Tells Me' see's Hatcham Social show off their mellow, love song-esque side. 'Little Savage' ooses with influential sounds of The Kinks, clearly a massive inspiration, with both the music and lyrics setting in deep emotions from the foursome.
It was difficult to rate their next single highly as it didn't come close to the quality of the aforementioned tracks. They could have easily chosen one of many from the LP that contain more substance - I didn't find there was much to it. As didn't 'Escape From London'. It became lost in parts with its slow guitar riffs clashing with the quick pace of the choruses.
It's as though About Girls has time traveled through from the 70s and 80s and into the 21st century, where the mainstream consists of euro beats and hip hop combining and creating hit after hit. This LP grew on me. The tracks weaken with time; the band seem to lose touch of their substance and spirited fun nature as the last three are worth skipping. 'All Summer Long', 'Stick Together' and 'Someone Else’s You' are worth skipping, and I can even go as far as saying the last couple of minutes got a cheeky fast forward. It cannot be argued that the music industry has a lot more talented artists showing off their skills of reworking the post-punk era than Hatcham Social manages to do, like The Horrors and The Strokes. However they do demonstrate that they aren’t taking themselves too seriously with a bit of playful lyrics, girl related angst lyrics and some solid guitar rock tracks.
Their headline UK tour kicks off 2nd April in Coventry and runs through up until 19th April ending in Wakefield.
About Girls is out now, and the single 'I Look Like God When You Dance With Me' is out 23rd April.
Worth Listening To...
- Nicola Tells Me
- Little Savage
- Like An Animal
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