Hold Fire - Power Cuts

On their debut single, Brighton four-piece Hold Fire blend experimentation with an instinct for big pop choruses. Hyperactive crunchy guitars propel Power Cuts forward with stop-start tension, while Clark Maides’ vocals recall, simultaneously, Gruff Rhys and Matt from Busted. Although their stylistic itchiness seems unintentional - the result, perhaps, of having too many little bits that sounded cool - it renders Hold Fire slightly more interesting than your usual high-school-hangover rock band. However, bonus cut You’ll Never Know summarises the flipside to their youthful energy: its by-the-numbers stadium indie and he-says-she-says lyrics prove that they’re still a work in progress. [Gillian Watson]