Angular Recording Corporation's second compilation, 'Rip Off Your Labels', is a collection of songs by the kind of low-fi indie bands currently bursting out of the New Cross art-rock scene, hot on the footsteps of current New Cross darlings Bloc Party. Unfortunately it often seems like all things good are often sacrificed, twisted or distorted in the name of art as the majority of offerings on this album do little but provoke bitter distaste.

The Vichy Government's 'I Control Discourse' features the worst spoken-style vocals that you'll ever hear, placed over a backing of bedroom beats and naff synths. The Violets sound like a tribute to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs with almost identicle art-garage/trashy guitars, and a vocalist who sounds scarily similar to a certain Karen O. Art Brut's collaboration with the rest of the "artists" who feature on 'Rip Off Your Labels' is nothing but cringeworthy and a waste of space. The F**ks' 'Argos' is the sound of a band who're stuck firmly in the 80's, before people realised that casio keyboards and lift music are shit.

Amongst all the pretentious bollocks (I struggle to find a better word) on 'Rip Off Your Labels' there are indeed a few gems; despite the aforementioned point, The Violets prove to be one of the highlights of the compilation alongside The Long Blondes' 'Autonomy Boy' with it's sophisticated indie rock swagger that carries through neatly into Showboys' 'The Factory'. 'No Tomorrow' by The Boyfriends is a brilliant post-punk/new-wave crossover, strongly saluting The Cure, Joy Division and The Smiths. Luxembourg provide the first, and last, outstanding moment on 'Rip Off Your Labels', with the eclectic 'Let Us Have It' that binds blues-style jams and heartfelt vocals with an intelligent glittery sparkle. As for everything else, it's either too average to mention, or so bad that I can't even be bothered to.

'Rip Off Your Labels' is a mix bag of arty nonesense and new talent, with the former strongly outweighing the latter. You can easily see several of these bands struggling through their careers complaining that they've been "misunderstood".

Rating: 2/5 by Chris Impey

Tracklisting

1. The Vichy Government - I Control Discourse
2. The Violets - Stealer
3. Art Brut & Friends - Top Of The Pops
4. The F**ks - Argos
5. The Long Blondes - Autonomy Boy
6. Showboys - The Factory
7. The Swear - Advert Boy
8. The Boyfriends - No Tomorrow
9. Sweetie - Fall Of Your Lies
10. Elizabeth Harper - Trouble In The Palace
11. Gifthorse - Happy Daggers
12. Lovers of Today - A Short Nasty Shock
13. Luxembourg - Let Us Have It
14. The Rocks - We Got It (Galen Remix)

Further links

Luxembourg web.co.uk

Official site of "Pop noir" band Luxembourg

Angular Records.co.uk

New Cross art-rock indie label