When Bostonist thinks of legendary bands from the U.K., Newcastle doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a hotbed of activity. Oh sure, the town produced Eric Burdon and the Animals, but it wasn’t really a player in the post-punk heyday of the early 1980s. So perhaps its no surprise that none of the hot new British bands to emerge in the past several years hailed from Newcastle. Until about a year ago that is, when Maxïmo Park hit the scene.
The post-punk/new wave revival bandwagon had already logged some heavy mileage when Maxïmo Park jumped on for the ride. So Bostonist was a bit skeptical when their late-to-the-party CD A Certain Trigger was released last May. But the band had made a strong showing at SXSW and reportedly lit up the Middle East last June. Plus, we were intrigued by the band’s signing to the visionary electronica label Warp (Squarepusher, Autechre, and Bostonist favorite Boards of Canada). So we picked up the album. And are we ever glad we did.
Maxïmo Park has a bright, infectious, power pop/dance rock sound fueled by incredibly tight playing and superior songwriting. While the band draws off late ‘70s and early ‘80s groups like the Jam, Wire, and early XTC, they still sound fresh and inventive. Maxïmo Park’s myspace page proclaims that the band’s mission is “to bring urgent, driving, propulsive pop music to the people.” Mission accomplished.
Bostonist received an advance copy of the band’s forthcoming Ep Missing Songs and, of course, we’re sharing it with you. Check the punchy, Elvis Costello-like “My Life in Reverse” and the soaring “Fear of Falling.” Then groove on one of the Ep’s best offerings, the sublime “Hammer Horror,” which you can download courtesy of the band, their label and promoters (thanks Spectre). “Hammer Horror” is propelled by an insistent rhythm track punctuated by vibes (!) and a bass line that runs up and down the scales as if training on the steps of Harvard Stadium for a cross country meet it’s desperate to win.
The Missing Songs Ep drops February 21st. It’s packed with new songs, b-sides, and a few demos. Highly recommended. And it’s all we’ll have to satisfy our Maxïmo jones until the band heads back to the studio or travels across the pond for another US concert tour. (Bostonist will keep you “posted,” no pun intended, on developments).
Listen or Download: Hammer Horror
Listen to clips: Fear of Falling, My Life In Reverse, Stray Talk
Contributed by Matt Durutti
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