Good Nature, by Youthmovies (CD on Drowned in Sound)

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This record left Ian feeling ecstatic.

Anyone who's walked into a Youthmovies live show pasty-faced and walked out with a tan will already have some idea what to expect from Good Nature.

This is a collection of bold music, experimental but definitely not written one-handed, and proving that you can have short attention spans and still get away with writing 8-minute tracks. This is how guitar-based pop music should sound in the space year 2008.

Complex guitar and trumpet lines chase each other around like a clique of psychic genius kids, underpinning some genuinely colourful and intriguing lyrics (it's worth reading the liner notes, there). The album's quieter moments are complimented by violin and cello arrangements, something I'm undecided as to whether I'd like to see included in a live show or not, but definitely fleshing out the sound nicely on record.

Youthmovies haemorrage excellent ideas, with tracks lurching off at right angles just as you've got used to the current time signature. As such, if any criticisms are to be levelled, it's that some might feel this LP could be a little more cohesive.

Nonetheless this is a towering Swiss army knife of an album, and if it's not sat at the top of my 'best of 2008' list I will personally eat my own ass.

Now That I'd love to see (Ant X)

Review date: 06 May 2008