Popular Workshop - We're Alive, And We're Not Alone

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

5...according to our Brian on Thu 28 Aug, 2008.

London based Popular Workshop have a very appropriate name. They sound fresh & busy with an emphasis on creating itchy, dynamic post hardcore pop songs built to stand repeated knocks...erm listens. They constantly impress me with their debut album 'We're Alive & Not Alone'. Steve Albini handles the engineers desk in his inimitable style, fleshing out the tight, hook infused rhythm section and making the guitars sing, swagger, grumble & swoop like old Cable, Bob Tilton & Ligament records! There's less emphasis on dynamic angst here though, more on hair raising, lively tunes that glide by in a vortex of velocity & blistering tunefulness. This accomplished & unpretentious 3 piece prove that combining edgy indie pop, post-punk shades & the essence of math rock does not spell dummed down cop out, rather thrilling, grinding ear candy! On 4th listen, this album proves it's mettle, corrosive yet melodic and hugely rewarding! I especially love closer 'Villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot' It sounds like a grungier Quickspace, full of snaking little guitar codas and a sludgy bass with some wonky, yearning vocals. A great album, courtesy of This is Fake DIY.

Popular Workshop have been keeping busy. They followed up a nationwide tour with Art Brut in February by flying to Chicago the next day to record their debut album with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio studios, which will be officially birthed unto the world on September 15th, entitled 'We're Alive, And We're Not Alone'. The first fruits of this work was download only single 'PopSong', released July 7th , and the second will be ‘Reptilians’, released on 7” through This Is Fake DIY Records (home of Duels, We Are The Physics and Manda Rin) on September 1st.

The band came together through a love of abrasive guitars and collapsing drums when pseudo-brothers Jake and Luke found Gypsy and forced him to "sing whilst playing the guitar". On record they create their own world of art-disco and discordant chaos inspired by and compared to a spazzed-out danced up Sonic Youth, Bloc Party, Shellac and Elastica. Popular Workshop have played live with the likes of Los Campesinos!, Blood Red Shoes and Good Shoes to name but a few, whilst releasing 7” singles and an EP via the labels Studio Penguin, Tigertrap, Fake Product, and Tough Love.

Tracklisting:

1. Freak le Freak, AKA The Freakster
2. Alphabet
3. Her Birthday
4. Uh (Uh) Uh Uh
5. Reptilians
6. Popsong
7. X-Rays Confidential
8. Radical
9. Channels
10. All About Vikki
11. City Limits
12. Get Up And Wait...
13. Villains Who Twirl Their Moustaches Are Easy To Spot