Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
(XL)
http://www.vampireweekend.com

The name issues forth images of stern faced Goths, backcombed hair and mesh jumpers a plenty, but this band could not be any further removed. Welcome to the antithesis of lumbering Emo shoe-gazers - Vampire Weekend. The group formed in 2006 and created a vibrant underground following with their self-styled Upper West Side Soweto sound.

Vampire Weekend’s eponymously titled debut album is the equivalent of a musical adventure; somewhat confusing, sometimes irritating, wandering off in many different directions, but never boring.

The band combine the afro-beat world music feel of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa with a slow dose of punk-pop on ‘I Stand Corrected’ and introduce harpsichord inspired regality on M79. Influences from Elvis Costello and The Beat are apparent on Oxford Comma. Walcott is an outstanding track which will see the kids going for it in the moshpit. There’s even a distinct hint of reggae fused post-punk with their closing song The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance which delivers a nod to The Clash’s Bank Robber.

Liken it to Paul Simon’s Graceland with an injection of witty lyrics, splinters of two-tone, and you may just be close to describing Vampire Weekend. That the band is imaginative and experimental is undeniable, but it’s musical Marmite - you’ll love it or loathe it. Which, no doubt, is what Vampire Weekend were aiming for.

Ali Rees