The debut album from Late of the Pier is a musical masterpiece with epically huge tunes. The electro indie sound of these English lads – from Nottingham – is an experimental mixture of guitars, synth and drums. What I love about ‘Fantasy Black Channel’ is that each song is uniquely different, but they combine in a way that makes this album a complete listen, rather than an array of individual tracks. From start to finish the songs are messy and raw, but there’s a certain charm behind it. With such a glut of mass-produced pop albums available, Late of the Pier have built something that is different and a cut above the rest. What else would you expect from an album that’s produced by Erol Alkan?

‘Broken’ is a highly charged guitar track, with loud beats and rough, raw indie vocals. The track featured on the ‘Kitsune Maison 5’ compilation. ‘Focker’ is another exciting track, and it’s pumped with screaming dirty synth and heavy guitar. Accompanied by lyrics such as; “I want to be your friend, oh yeah”, it’s a break-up song that makes you want to scream and dance… but not like an emotional wreck, more in an I-don’t-care-we’re-through way. The song progresses into a highly intense synth rave, which makes for the perfect ending. ‘Space and the Woods’ is filled with anti-pop lyrics like; “suicide is in my blood, it always was, but it doesn’t evaporate in the light anymore”, and; “I’m shit hot, so say what you think about me, I’m not going to cry cause I, I don’t care…” It’s a mix of psychedelic infused confidence, boasting arrogant behaviour and encouraging deviant recklessness. Saving one of the best tracks till last, LOTP cap things off with ‘Bathroom Gurgle’, a progressive ballad that concludes with an audacious falsetto.

The mix of genres, including punk, rock, electronic, retro, psychedelic and rave, gives this album an outstanding originality that has to be experienced to be fully understood. Although it may seem that mixing so many genres together would create something too intense to handle, ‘Fantasy Black Channel’ manages to do the opposite, creating floor-filling tunes that are remarkable to the ear. If you are lucky enough to go to Falls or Field Day this year, Late of the Pier will be a must see, as their live shows are said to be as intense as their album. If you are into the indie electro sound, definitely have a listen to this album. Unquestionably one of my favourites of 2008!