Lillies and Remains

Japanese rock has become so self-referential over the past decade that it's almost refreshing to hear a band that's nakedly devoted to the sounds of Western guitar-slingers. Lillies and Remains took their name from a Bauhaus song and wear their musical influences as a source of pride, citing first-generation post-punk acts like Gang of Four and The Fall, together with latterday descendants such as Neils Children and Selfish Cunt. What they actually end up sounding most like is Interpol, which is partly down to frontman Kent's vocals, delivering his (largely indecipherable) English lyrics in a bored baritone that's a dead ringer for Paul Banks. It's derivative as hell, but they do it well, and it's hard to begrudge these guys for the overseas interest they've begun to attract. Support comes from Nagoya's Sekaiteki no Band, with whom Lillies probably share a lot of the same records.