Rogues - Widows EP

The world may not be ready for Rogues. Sure, many indie bands have flirted with nu-wave music (Editors, Phoenix) or cited synth-pop as a strong influence (The Killers, anyone?), but few have nakedly embraced the beast with as much gusto as this five piece. Imagine Hot Hot Heat deciding to be less like The Strokes and more like Duran Duran/New Order and you're in the right ballpark. In fact, it seems almost musical sacrillege to have synths mixed as high as they are in opener MERRYgoROUND, and the U2-esque Mechanical Heart is nothing short of indie blasphemy, but EP highlight 'Violence', adorned with it's falsetto 'oohs' and pasteurised funk groove, succeeds primarily because of it's unholy love affair with the vintage Casio.