Brighton’s music scene is currently dominated by two distinct groups. If you’re in a band in the South’s premier city, you’re either a metal band (see Ghost of a Thousand, HTBM, Centurion et al), or a pretentious nu-rave indie band (Klaxons, anyone?) It’s always good then, to see a band breaking their local mould and do something a little different from their contemporaries. MiMi Soya has done just this, by creating a beautiful melodic pop-punk sound on their first collection of tracks to se the light of day.
With a sound that mixes a touch of Paramore with the most nostalgic feel of Josie and the Pussycats, opening track ‘Crazy’ is a perfectly polished piece of aural pleasure. Vocals are provided by ex-front-woman Lucy, and the young lass has quite a set of lungs on her which provide a smooth lead to the track.
‘You didn’t let me finish’ also features Lucy on lead, but has an altogether more summery, Cartel-infused feel to it. Top that off with a guitar-tapping solo somewhere around the three-minute mark, and you’ve got quite the little finger snapper available here. Closing track ‘A Memoir’ proves to be the strongest offering here, with vocals being taken care of by a new, and somewhat appropriately named ‘Hero’. With a guitar line that has a Caribbean ska feel to it, it’s smile-on-your-face music that is almost impossible not to fall in love with.
With the recent resurgence of a popularity in pop-punk due to the success of Fall Out Boy, Panic!, Cartel et al, it’s possible MiMi Soya could be the perfect British equivalent to America’s Heavyweights. Hit them up on Myspace now, because MiMi Soya are seriously worthy of your time.
Andy