Feindrehstar – Vulgarian Knights

Garlanded with praise in their native Germany but relatively unknown here, Feindrehstar should appeal to those who miss Kruder and Dorfmeister and used to get down to Jazzanova. A seven piece from Jena who've been playing together for 10 years, this is only their first full-length release after a series of EPs and well received gigs around Europe. Live percussion and bass mix very well with vocal samples, while horns and Fender Rhodes add texture and propulsion in addition to keeping things harmonically interesting.

Part live band and part sample-centric-hop heads, Vulgarian Knights manages to be crunchy enough to avoid accusations of blandness, yet still palatable enough to get airplay in All Saints. In a concert setting these guys would really tear the roof off but on disc they are merely good nod-ya-head fodder. Download a few tracks (legally, you crooks) and then wait for them to hit a town near you. [David McNally]