Nephu Huzzband - Elementary

From the off, it's clear that Nephu Huzzband have a distinct set of motivational DIY ideals running through their music and general practice. Punk sensibilities are to the fore as far as the material is concerned, with the sound hovering around art-rock/new-wave. There are a healthy number of time changes and unusual signatures as well as brash guitar/vocal interplay. The band have collectively put themselves about and reaped the rewards, with videos on MTV2, live appearances on FlyTV and a live radio session on BBC6. Their reputation has also been stoked somewhat by small eccentricities, not least of which involved sending hundreds of free copies of their live debut album to British troops currently serving in Iraq. Quite how that was received is anybody's guess. Perhaps a little skeet shooting went on that day. Regardless, this first studio album is edgy and inventive, if not entirely rich in memorable tunes.