The last proper Quruli album was 2002's spectacular "The World Is Mine", a wild, psychedelic, dance-influenced album with traces of Neu! Oasis, Daft Punk and God knows what else (check out the bagpipe techno on "Mind The Gap"). On the other hand the last couple of singles; "How To Go" and "Rock'n'Roll" have been, not to put too fine a point on it, crap.

With Supercar, commercially speaking Quruli's nearest contemporaries, taking the indie-dance-pop thing to new heights with "Answer", this is an interesting response. The straightforward riff-driven pop rock of the last couple of singles is a good indicator of he direction "Antenna" takes, although thankfully not of the quality. "Good Morning" is like a poor man's take on The Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road" but second track "Morning Paper" is where the album really kicks off providing a commanding showcase for new drummer Christopher McGuire's powerful stick-work. "Race" and "Hometown" both take the 70's styled psychedelic riff-rock to nostalgic but invigorating places and would have been much better choices for singles. "Hana-bi" is where McGuire is really allowed to shine and promises to be a killer live. Also worthy of note is the haunting, acoustic "Bandwagon", basically a Kishida Shigeru solo track, which would have been a fitting closer to the album in a more just world.

With a sold-out show at the Budokan in June, Quruli have at least one foot in the big time and with "Antenna" they have an album which manages to straddle the divide between commercially acceptable rock and credible alternative sound, but only just. They may yet mutate into Southern All-Stars but, for now at least, let's praise them for what there are; a charismatic band with an ever-evolving sound who are scoring points for our music in a difficult-to-penetrate mainstream. -Ian Martin, Mar.19.04

Antenna