Mummy Short Arms – Old Jack's Windowless Playhouse

In an ideal world, Mummy Short Arms would have called in Steve Albini to produce their debut album. He would have been the man to capture the full intensity of this Glasgow band and their snarling frontman James Allan. In reality, fledgling bands don't often work with super-producers, so we're left with an album that merely hints at the damage this seven-piece could do if they were let fully off the leash.

Change, their second single, has a definite ring of Mclusky about it, and even better is Silicone Dream, which allows Allan to holler in his best Black Francis style. He's the undoubted star of Mummy Short Arms; his voice drives along even the more pedestrian numbers with its menace. Old Jack's Windowless Playhouse isn't quite the breakthrough it could have been, but it's a definite step in the right direction with unquestionably worthy moments to grab your attention.