In a recent popjustice.com interview it was a shock to see Hadouken! frontman James Smith lose any shred of musical mystique when he started talking about how ‘the wider public view you by your singles’, before saying the band was a product at the forefront of the changing music industry. (They’re one of the first ‘360 degree’ record/marketing deal acts).
Hadouken!, then, are less futuristic neon grindie and more Atari Teenage Riot for the ‘Skins’ generation, all clattering tin beats and brittle bleeps. And when they ease down on the synth-swoon of ‘Driving Nowhere’ it goes a tad Depeche. But it’s the lyrics, sardonically populated by ‘Hoxton heroes’ and ‘indie Cindys’, that makes them sound instantly dated. Take ‘Crank It Up’, with Smith hollering about playlists, profile songs and ringtones set to music that sounds like So Solid Crew and 2Unlimited volleying around a pinball machine. Then there’s ‘Get Smashed Gate Crash’ with lines about getting tanked, puking and shagging in your parents bed. ‘We are the wasted youth and we are the future,’ James sings. Sadly this already sounds like the past. Kim Taylor Bennett
