The Wind-Up Birds // The Land

The Wind-Up Birds
The Land
(Sturdy Records)
* * * *

This debut full-length by The Wind-Up Birds is angry and outspoken about the state of the nation, and does it in a way that snarls and shouts; the chances are that you'll also get equally get swept up by it.

The record succeeds brilliantly in taking that most overused of genres – post punk – and making it sound vital again. 'Good Shop Shuts', with its throbbing bass and angular guitars, might not resemble anything new at first glance, but it sinks its hooks in within half-a-minute, and boom – you’re addicted. This is the case for nearly every single song.

It isn't all breakneck speed and when they slow it down, like on the brilliantly-titled 'There Won't Always Be An England' or the wonderfully sprawling 'Nostalgic for...' you get a real sense of resignation and that, no matter how much anyone can do, the future looks bleak.

To top it all off there's the wit displayed in the lyrics: 'Wonder Street' has a whole verse that mentions the rain before apologising, even though “it must be a metaphor for something”. This is exhilarating stuff.