Various - One Inch Badge Split Series Vol 5 (7" vinyl)

Wow! What a line up. Future Islands, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Nullifier, but the good money must be on the appearance of Why? as highlight of this aural treat. Especially as its their excellent take on The Cure's 'Close to Me' previously only available somewhere in the depths of the internet. I'm not one for covers usually but this is excellent, re-interpreting the song completely with fuzzed out guitar, stabbed accordion and without Fat Bob's trademark whine it's easy to see what a great song it is. Superb stuff and worth the admission price alone. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone do a sort of hi-energy gay disco thing with a vocal which makes the like minded Stephin Merritt seem impossibly upbeat. Last week's stars Future Islands do their mid-'80s Breakfast Club thing. I'm just not sure on the guys voice here, it's an acquired taste, very raspy but the tune is Prince-in-rock-mode thrilling. Finally Nullifier carry on the '80s revivalist thing with a take on stadium rock not unlike mid-period Simple Minds or the Waterboys. Not sure if Jim Kerr and co would have included the feedback solo but the melody is very 'Safety Dance' therefore after 10 years or so I get to finally use that unused Men Without Hats comparison.