Just Handshakes (We're British) - Paper Cranes/ Talking Picture

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Customer reviews
Press release

5...according to our Brian on Thu 08 Oct, 2009.

Leeds combo Just Handshakes (We're British) are to be commended for actually approaching the befuddled Auntie Norman and shaking some CDs at us whilst chanting in unison "sell these, we're great, your office is nice BTW, really peaceful" whilst sporting the sweetest of smiles & graceful manners. Not sure what to expect as the diddy things are tied so tenderly with ribbon & string that we're utterly terrified of opening the damn things with our fat, greasy manfingers so Brian "I hate computers" Dangerouses has opted to peruse their brightly adorned Myspace for glimpses into their tender indie worldview. 'Shipwrecks' is one of the 2 track singles they've delivered, a gentle swaying number with a remarkably gorgeous, fragile & childlike female vocal carried along by these playful minimal guitars, softly tumbling drums & a charming bobbing basslines, with the occasional discreet breeze of an organ popping up it's head - the nearest I can muster, comparison wise, is somewhere between Young Marble Giants, Vampire Weekend & fellow W. Yorks scamps Sky Larkin. A truly lovely tune. The other single is 'Paper Cranes' which has a rougher indie guitar sound embellished with some twinkly xylophone & more dreamy sing-song vocals from vocalist Clara. For some reason this reminds me considerably of a less dark Melys, the Welsh band John Peel used to adore. Just clean, timeless, sensitive indie pop with no frills, just pure & natural! Top marks for the loving presentation too...

'Paper Cranes / Talking Picture is the second single from Leeds based band Just Handshakes (We're British). Limited to just 300 copies the hand printed sleeves include origami paper and instructions on how to fold your very own paper crane.'

JHWB Press - - -

'Officially one of the best UK indie pop bands around.' - Rough Trade

'A female fronted four-piece embodying everything that was good about female fronted bands in the early 80s, think Rough Trade at its inception' - Whiskas (Forward Russia)

'Just Handshakes (We're British) appear to have it all: a great name (kudos for those brackets), some fantastic pop songs (think a less angular Sky Larkin) and a lovely approach to packaging their CDs - it pained me to untie the bow it came wrapped in.' - Vibrations Magazine

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