INDIE

All skinny jeans and wiry frame Joe Lean is a complex multi-media construct. Born Joseph Beamont, ex-drummer with The Pippettes (under the stage name Robin of Loxley) also known by his acting name Joe Van Moyland as seen in Peep Show, Nathan Barley and The Tudors. It comes as no surprise he makes such a charasmatic frontman. Sounding like an amalgam of every other indie band that’s hot right now — most notably The Libertines, Kaiser Chiefs and The Horrors (especially on instrumental opener ‘Tough Terrible’) — all shot through with a retro vitality (think Joe Meek’s bombastic approach to bedroom production). It’s wholly derivative, but that doesn’t stop it being ridiculous fun. ‘Lonely Buoys’ and ‘Lucio Starts Fires’ are packed with sharp guitars and roaring harmonies, effervescent highlights in this short showcase.

Being tipped at the ‘next big thing’ in January along with a million other ‘next big things’ is a scary prospect that can as easily be the kiss of death as the leg up that’s deserved. But given time JL&TJJJ could attain those heights, they certainly have a frontman who could easily take them to the next level.