The Long Blondes - Singles

After second album Couples failed to set the world alight, a reminder of the glory days when they were feted as the greatest unsigned band in the country is a savvy move from The Long Blondes. However, there’s a suspicion that this Singles collection’s raison d’etre has more to do with the title echoing its predecessor than any real demand for scratchy demos and B-sides. Still, as a catalogue of their early days, it reveals two things: first, their sultry-retro sound came fully formed on debut 7” New Idols/Long Blonde, from the former’s opening Be My Baby drums to the latter’s confident sexuality (“I know you want to kiss me, there’s nothing wrong with that”). And secondly, the disco-funk sound they’ve adopted of late has only a fraction of the charm of doo-wop romance Polly or the wry skiffle-indie of Peterborough. Here’s hoping they rediscover their considerable charisma for album number three. [Chris Buckle]