Born Again

XL are in that elite category of labels wherein you can pretty much shell out for releases sight unseen, purely on the basis of those two wee letters. Thus, post-Christmas presents from Lemon Jelly (a delightfully jaunty showstopper) and Badly Drawn Boy (effortlessly profound; sublime) are both predictably brilliant. But our favourite Mancunian candidate by far is the terrifying performance-art electro-garage freakshow that is Detroit’s Electric Six - a band with, it almost goes without saying, only five members.

Managing to be simultaneously preeningly high-camp and filthily garage, this, their debut EP for the label, is like an explosion in an early-Roxy Music factory. ‘DANGER, DANGER!’ screams (wait for it) Dick Valentine, womanishly, as vicious guitar lines flail past him like electrified bullwhips. ‘HIGH VOLTAGE!’ He’s not joking.

And look, it’s Jack White on backing vocals. What a label!