Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

Essentially, Friendly Fires do just one thing, but they do it well. The St Albans trio make superb party music - funky, unpretentious, danceable - if your repertoire extends beyond the standard rhythmic feet-shuffling. Look elsewhere for introspection; this is adrenaline-fuelled, angst-free indie-disco. If James Murphy started a clubnight - while The Rapture and !!! were out of town, of course - Friendly Fires would surely be his choice for house band. Surprisingly, the breakthrough single Paris is one of the weaker moments on this punchy ten-track romp, its syrupy sentiment wiped up by the metallic guitar of opener Jump in the Pool, the DEVO-ish beat of White Diamonds and the somehow ragged-yet-slick groove of Photobooth, the most energising essence of their cowbell-heavy aesthetic. Friendly Fires' stylistic limitations prevent this being any more than good, but it'll surely find a home in many a DJ's flightcase. [Nick Mitchell]