Malcolm Middleton - Fight Like The Night

Never one to be the life and soul of a party, Fight Like The Night nevertheless finds Middleton assuming the guise as some sort of dance-punk poet. The mournful introspective lyrics may still be there but, complemented by The Reindeer Section's Jenny Reeve, there's a sliver of optimism this time that he's going to pull through. With some of the scuzziest guitars this side of Sonic Youth and some electronic beats thrown in that wouldn't be out of place down your local indie disco, this could be as close as Middleton has delivered to an upbeat pop single yet. [Garry Thomson]