Liars - Houseclouds

There are some songs that would be punk-funk classics, but just don't hit the right tempo, leaving audiences perplexed as to what to do with their feet and swaying limbs. And with Houseclouds, off their fourth self titled album, Liars do just that marvellously. The groove would be there and the pitch bent vocals would be catchy but the whole thing proves magically elusive; in a soundbite-centric world, that is a good thing. Just as satisfying is the 7" b-side, Dear God, which sounds like the karaoke howl of Skaters crossed with The Doors being sucked through a chronosynclastic infundibulum. [Ali Maloney]