A new year and a new, ever lovable, Japan Only EP by a hip young band. In this case a welcome opportunity for indie kids to further savour the breathless, windswept delights of the British Empire's favourite sons.

Lead track "Remember Me" you should all know by now from the excellent debut album "The Decline Of British Sea Power". If you don't already own this album then stop reading this and go buy it immediately. OK, done that? Then you know that it's a brilliant condensation of everything brilliant about "Heroes" era Bowie and "English Settlement" era XTC. Ditto "Carrion" and "Apologies To Insect Life" both of which appear here in slightly different but equally heart-stopping versions.

The other songs here make a welcome change of pace from the force and bluster of the album. In particular, "Good Good Boys" is a weary sounding yet bizarrely chirpy marching song and "The Smallest Church In Sussex" is a haunting microcosm of the desolate grey rural beauty that constitutes much of England's South. Instrumental track "The Scottish Wildlife Experience" captures something of the hypnotic chaos of The British Sea Power Wild Live Experience but without the acrobatics, equipment abuse and audience interaction (I hesitate to use the word "participation" since it implies a kind of free choice which BSP's somewhat direct approach to crowd management doesn't always offer) it can never fully capture the madness in all its glory.

At nine tracks and thirty-two minutes or so in length it's not a far cry from a lot of full length releases this year anyway and as these post-album Japan Only EPs go, this one is pretty consistent in its quality. Also, in the sense that it adds a dimension to the group not fully captured on their debut there is no reason for the discerning music lover to overlook it. -Ian Martin, Jan.06.04

Remember Me