Freeland - Cope™

Freeland is the live arm of Adam Freeland, a DJ who was at the forefront of the late 90s ‘nu-skool breaks’ scene. If more people had followed his patronymic approach to band-naming, we might have ended up listening to London Calling by Mellor, or Wish by Smith. There would be more bands like Keane or Hepburn or Emerson, Lake & Palmer. We would never have been able to marvel at the imagination and wit behind names like Shed Seven or Test Icicles or Anal Cunt. That’s the sort of thing I found myself thinking about while listening to this album. When I came to, it had finished, so all I can tell you is that it sounds like a slightly edgier Bodyrockers, and single Under Control is really trying to be Losing My Edge. The ™ up there, by the way, is part of the title. Hands off, LCD Soundsystem!