Music

In a world that’s crawling with post-punk revivalists in suits, The Young Knives manage to stick out like a scarecrow in a field of faceless mannequins. Keen gardeners and experts at making jam, Henry Dartnall (vocals, guitar), his brother House Of Lords (bass, vocals) and drummer Oliver  Askew infuse their edgy punk-pop with a darkly surreal tone. One that suggests an eccentric wisdom that’s been achieved by looking at the world from its periphery… Ashby-de-la-Zouch, to be precise.

Like their pals The Futureheads, the Knives’ jerky punk thrills (á la 1981) won over Gang Of Four guitarist-cum-producer Andy Gill. On his  debut album, he’s guided them from rough beginnings to making pop music that’s properly strange. Existing in a world that Ray Davies might have imagined had he been a ‘League Of Gentlemen’ fan, the Knives’ tales are brought to life by razor-sharp riffs and jabbering rhythms, veering sharply from the peppy ‘Here Comes The Rumour Mill’ to the unsettling ‘Coastguard’. Most impressive, though, is the psychedelic undertow: they meander jazzily through ‘Half Timer’, spook us on the folksy ‘Tailors’ and the lilting ‘Another Hollow Line’ is the album’s standout. A terrific and very funny – not always ha ha – listen.