Little Comets - In Search Of Elusive Little Comets Album Review

In Search Of Elusive Little Comets is the debut album from Newcastle-based four-piece Little Comets, who's alternative fusion combines a perky indie-disco edge with a confident, eclectic blend. The result is outstanding; an album that takes the best parts of contemporary indie successes and throws them into a musical melting pot from which Little Comets have churned out this precise, fresh and well-considered offering.

Opening tracks 'Adultery' and 'One Night In October' sound instantly familiar with the catchy and confident indie strut of the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals and The Maccabees; a sound which flows effortlessly throughout In Search Of Elusive Little Comets. 'One Night In October' sounds the first of many strong kicking choruses on the album, ridden with a funky, feel-good, indie disco pound and tight guitar riffs. The interlocking guitars and funky bass and drum parts continue through a similarly catchy, danceable groove through 'Joanna' and many of the following tracks on the album.

'Her Black Eyes' proves something of a contrast to the establisher indie-disco vibe with spacey delayed electric and gentle acoustic guitars providing a calmer accompaniment to Robert Coles' distinctive singing and whooping vocals; the strum of the acoustic guitar and strong pluck of the acoustic bass forms an accidental gentle percussive accompaniment. Later in the track, the drums and melodic accompaniment kick in sounding flavours of Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire. The flavours of Vampire Weekend, both vocally and in the catchy, light-hearted musical vibe, are sounded later in 'Tricolour' and the energetic 'Dancing Song', eclectic with all its random whistling and synth sounds.

The second half of In Search Of Elusive Little Comets continues to emphasise Little Comets' variety and eclecticism; 'Darling Alistair' and 'Lost Time' instantly sound comparison with The Kooks and Razorlight, with edgy, angular guitars and all. Later, 'Mathilda' is a story flanked by a diverse percussion sound; the track gradually builds and builds with all sorts of sounds, like a menagerie of a musical ensemble, before fading to nothing. 'Mathilda' paves the way for 'Intelligent Animals', Little Comets' powerful conclusion to their debut album; a much slower , more sparse and sensitive, piano-led track which contrasts the preceding eclectic indie bounce. Opening with piano and vocals over a bed of strange electronically altered sounds, 'Intelligent Animals' gradually builds with soaring, echoing backing harmonies. The track is then intercepted by a quote of political commentary and almost dies away to nothing before building back with the powerful, soaring accompaniment to the piano and vocals concluding the album with an intense musical climax.

An album containing fun, danceable, eclectic eccentricity, a slick, fresh indie vibe and a concluding powerful ballad, In Search Of Elusive Little Comets really does have it all. A superb debut.

Hannah Spencer