Pull In Emergency/ Pull In Emergency

Pull In Emergency
Pull In Emergency
(Mute Records)

An exciting debut from a young British band that doesn’t rely on faux-Americana or over-the-top small town patriotism to get its point across? Whatever next! Pull In Emergency kick things off with the genuinely thrilling new wave scuffle of ‘Everything Is The Same’, guitarist Frankie Bowmaker’s musical chops make their case in the first two minutes – and they’re unrelenting across the ten tracks here.
No doubt a result of the band’s recent declaration that US alt-rock from the nineties influenced them during the recording of this record, tracks such as ‘What You Say’ betray the nonchalant swagger of producer Gordon Raphael’s former charges The Strokes, swapping the middle-class playground of an expensive European schooling for that of a North London private education.
The band’s debut shuns fan and critic favourites such as ‘Follow’, focusing on their new found love of melting rugged grunge riffs with the ultra poppy rhythmic indie of The Smiths and all that sailed aboard her.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t work: they’ve created a self assured, vibrant record that transcends the media’s focus on their age (most of PIE are getting driving lessons for their next birthday).
The ride ends with ‘Hold Still’, a brief, final flash of vulnerability, with Faith Barker’s vocals tenderly wrapping the album up in dreams. As she repeats question upon question into the night, it’s clear Pull In Emergency are going to have fun finding the answers together.