These Things Move In Threes

In 2007, it pays to be polite. In a post Kooks/Snow Patrol paradigm, the UK indie-pop nation has sensed which way the breeze is blowing: Doherty drugginess is passé, quietly cooed vocals and songs of desire, heartbreak and polite frustration are where the zeitgeist’s at. Here, Sussex five piece Mumma-Ra, named after a character from an ‘80s TV show but otherwise earnest to the tips of their skinny denims, wax drippy in extremis. ‘Now Or Never’ sees frontman James New defeatedly warbling about unfulfilled desires as the rest of the band conjure a dewy-eyed Brit-rock shimmer; ‘Out Of The Queue’ is The Libertines channeling The Smiths. Elsewhere ‘She’s Got You High’ is a jangling admonishment of the narcotic deceptiveness of lurve, while ‘Light Up This Room’ surfs on acoustic guitars and New’s sensitive lad falsetto. A big wet soppy bear-hug of a record.