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Album Review: Red Light Company - Fine Fascination

A melange of recognisable influences created as an amalgamation of 90s band Suede, The Killers, Oasis, Death Cab For Cutie, and is that a hint of Enrique Iglesias we hear in there?

Granted, Red Light Company are not on ground breaking territory, yet they do bring a certain freshness to the charts that has been missing amongst indie bands of late.

Red Light Company are a five piece London based band who have toured with the likes of Editors and have already released four singles including their latest offering 'Arts & Crafts'. Now they are releasing their debut album and look set to take the charts by storm…

Opening track 'Words Of Spectacular' would make a good potential single release. Hints of The Killers are rife and this is followed by one of the highlights of the album 'Scheme Eugene' with its original title that blends a vocal reminiscent of both Brandon Flowers and Liam Gallagher (check the pronunciation of the words "Scheme Eugene"). This is a catchy and poptastic indie offering from the band which would not have seemed out of place on The Killers album Hot Fuss, with a similar vibe to their anthem 'All These Things I've Done'. The intro pays homage to James' 1997 hit 'She's A Star' and you will find yourself humming the chorus for days to come. There is just something about the title that we cannot help but love.

Latest single 'Arts & Crafts' bares a vague similarity to the beautiful and calming vocals of Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and would seemingly fit in well on a compilation like The OC soundtrack. The vocal talent of frontman Richard Frenneaux sounds annoyingly familiar in the choruses, and after three listens we realise that it does in fact sound a little like Enrique Iglesias. Once you've noticed it there's no turning back! This is a great song that shows what Red Light Company are capable of and gives a perfect taste of what the album is all about.

The stand out track of the album is 'Meccano', named after the 30s construction craze. It is a more sugar-coated and melodic offering from Red Light Company. This would be a good track to hear live, surely one for the festivals with its huge guitar riffs and sweet xylophone melodies. "Listen to your heart"..

'When Everyone Is Everybody Else' blends a steady drum beat for simplistic verses which ooze into blasting choruses. As a single release this is worthy of competing with the likes of any indie rock band in the charts and shows that this band deserve far more press attention. The end of the song breaks things down for a plateau of calm which gradually builds and sound blasts an impressionable finish.

'With Lights Out' and 'New Jersey Television' pay the greatest dedication to Suede with a steady rhythm and strong guitar riffs and will surely work well live. Just listening to it you can imagine yourself down the front at V Festival jumping and hollering the lyrics loud and proud.

'The Architect' is like a rocked out version of Embrace's 'Gravity', but lacks that melancholic tone that Embrace are renowned for; this record is not a collection to drown your sorrows in.

Closing track 'The Alamo' gets off to a rougher edged start. With an indecisive intro it features confused sounding piano melodies, a rockier fusion that builds and falls, builds and falls. It creates a lasting impression, drawing to a close this rather impressive album.

You will feel familiar with Fine Fascination after just a couple of listens. It is a well thought out album, and to steal Zane Lowe's favourite phrase it is certainly "all killer and no filler".

Red Light Company? We give them the green light; there will be no stopping them if this album is anything to go by.

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