The folly of youth has been all-too-thoroughly documented throughout the history of popular music – but what most cynics forget is that such folly can be exactly what makes certain genres so enjoyable. Would pop music, for example, even exist without a concentrated dose of naïve silliness?
Cajun Dance Party, the band most likely to be sent to the headmaster’s office for being too twee, know all about youthful abandon – these Sixth Formers are currently studying for their A-Levels. Yet the London five-piece scoff at the notion of rebellion, apparently choosing to record their Bernard Butler-produced debut album (the first of two set for release in 2008) in between revision sessions.
The Colourful Life is an album that definitely benefits from Butler’s experience. Derivative? Certainly: there are more than a few tracks here that ape the warm, poppy fuzz of recent Belle and Sebastian albums. Nonetheless, the quivering rock ‘n’ roll, Batman and Robin-style romp and fizzy gasp of tracks like ‘The Race’, ‘The Next Untouchable’ and ‘Amylase’ all sound fantastic – despite singer Daniel Blumberg’s generic indie-boy vocals.
While the nine tracks on The Colourful Life are as catchy, warm and downright fun as you’d expect from a band who cite The Beatles, The Strokes and The Go! Team as influences, you sense that Cajun Dance Party have yet to figure out exactly what their own sound is. If or when they do, the results might just be spectacular.
Key Track: ‘Amylase’