Like a musical energy drink pumped full of sugar and caffeine, Mother Vulpine rattle around these 2 songs like they are being shaken around in a box by some giant hands. It's post-Libertines vs Bloc-Party driven guitar growling and deliberately scruffy drumming that sounds like the drummer has some serious issues to take out with his hi-hat and snare for sleeping with his missus behind his back... "take that you dirty cheating snare bastard, oh yeah and you want some to do you hi-hat?". This is why it's so much fun, because you can't bottle energy like this, but you can put it down on record if you are clever enough

For a debut release by both band and label neither "Keep Your Wits... " nor "For a friend... " are single material; rollicking good album material yes and live they must be the musical equivalent of a drunken friend getting you in a head lock and yelling his beery breathe into your ear... in fact that is quite a succinct way to describe the vocal style if said friend was also holding in a wee but just had to tell you before he went

There are tonnes of ideas packed into both tunes, with "Keep Your Wits... " just edging the race with its grinding and rolling middle eight. Those familiar with other local dignities Forward Russia and This Et Al will find plenty of comfort here - great stuff all round and with a sharper hook it will be even greater.

Richard Garnett

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