Lostaura/ The Hiding Place

Lostaura
The Hiding Place
(The Animal Farm)

You’d have to be a deaf dumb and blind kid (who sure plays a mean pinball) not to have noticed that there has been a massive plundering of eighties music over the past three or four years. However, you may not have realised that the eighties weren’t just about electro-pop or the miserable romance of The Smiths. Fortunately enough, Lostaura are here to fill this huge gap in your musical education.
They list their influences as Muse, Elbow and Coldplay, but to me Lostaura sound closer to the sound of early U2 (before they became megalomaniacs) and Simple Minds (before they slipped up their own backsides). And with all members being qualified musicians, it’s not surprising that Lostaura’s sound is tight and big.
Let’s cut to the chase here: this band’s natural habitat isn’t a toilet venue in London, it’s a stadium – and truth be told, this record has them in good shape. The standout track ‘Beside You’ sounds like the younger and fresher brother of ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, and helps to make this a terrific debut.