With a band name like Important-looking Pirates and an E.P. title that translates as ‘The Devil Chicken’ you’d be forgiven for thinking this particular Sheffield act isn’t going to be all that serious. Hell, the whole thing does sound like one big joke. It’s a pleasant surprise then that this turns out to be not nearly as silly as it sounds. In fact ‘El Pollo Diablo’ is a thoroughly solid listen, better in tune with three minute punk than warbling sea shanties.
More punk-rock than The Donnas, less spiky than Civet, an argument can be made that both musically and vocally the band fits snugly alongside such UK acts as Showdown City and Love and a .45. Think pop-punk with a little bit of an edge. A twist of attitude amidst some flamboyant and catchy choruses. Lead singer Annie Bashforth’s vocals, best heard on ‘Misfit’ and ‘Bullet Heart Attack‘, are defiant and forceful whilst guitarist Nik Milne manages to pour some seriously syrupy pop vocals over proceedings (see ‘The Best Ones Are Taken’). Together it’s a brew that mixed in these quantities (a little more gruff punk, a little less pop) distils just about right.
Closing track ‘The Ultimate Cure for Boredom‘ stands out as a little longer and a little more grown-up than that before it. Sure the pop punk seeps through but there’s a more developed sound here, a little reminiscent of the Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘1979’ in its guitars, whilst hinting at Blondie in its vocals. Certainly the Long John Silver of the six songs on this recording.
Before dismissing this band on the basis of what is, and it has to be said, an absolutely awful name (although oh so eye-catching), it’s well worth checking out the tunes that accompany it. Jolly, swashbuckling and dastardly go some way to summing matters up but enjoyable is closer to being [black] spot on.
Alex