David E. Sugar – Memory Store

There was a buzz around this young producer’s first few releases – as early conduits of the 8-bit sound, singles Oi New York, This is London and To Yourself squelched and rattled with infectious DIY enthusiasm. His debut album takes a different approach though, and while it probably represents a maturing songwriter, it’s a whole lot less fun.

Sugar’s escaped from the bedroom and is instead chasing down the white indie-disco strut of Calvin Harris and Tom Vek, the precocious exuberance of Frankmusik and the inner-city wideboy pop of Jamie T or Just Jack without doing anything he could really call his own. There’s even a blatant ‘bettaaah’ that brings up unfortunate memories of Kate Nash’s ‘fittaaah’. One of the survivors from his early years is Although You May Laugh, and it remains the album’s best track, but apart from the Cure-ish Flea Market, there isn’t enough excitement or inspiration to make Memory Story really pop. [Euan Ferguson]