UK quartet Electric Radio are just the latest in a long line of bands claiming influence by punk luminaries The Clash. They've got the gravely, throaty vocals, the urgent, incessant guitars and the pounding drums down to a tee on latest album Radio No Go!, whilst all the way keeping a strong sense of melody and an appreciation for a solid hook alive.

It's an album full of ideas, dabbling in horn sections and almost pop-like harmonies inbetween snotty punk cuts and massive singalongs. It delivers clear nods to idols but remains satisfyingly diverse enough to keep songs like Rolling Past Your Guard and 3 Minute Warning sounding absolutely brilliant. There's an appreciation for the music they listened to growing up, but never does it come across as copycat pandering or tired pastiche, instead the raucous gang vocals on show here simply grab you by throat and pull you along on a ride through some truly excellent - and distinctly British - ska-punk cuts. It's slick, sharp and completely spot-on in every department, a thoroughly enjoyable album offering more than it's fair share of entertainment. The Clash, would indeed, be very proud.

Rating: 4/5 by Alex Nunn

Tracklisting

1. Intro
2. Radio No Go
3. Tombstone Jones
4. Big Mistake
5. A Raga For The Drunks
6. On Another Day
7. Never Escape
8. Anita, Don't You Cry
9. Been And Gone
10. Rolling Past Your Guard
11. 3 Minute Warning
12. Too Bad
13. Alone Together
14. My Darling

Further links

Electric River on Myspace

MySpace site to Clash-fan punks Electric River