The One Day Speakers - Scan the Horizon EP

While it's natural to pigeonhole a new band using your own internal jukebox, The One Day Speakers wear their inspirations a little too proudly on their sleeve, being particularly enthralled with Alex Kapranos' muse. Franz Ferdinand, however, offset disco beats with a spiky urgency; the Speakers settle into a mellower groove, with an '80s synth and shoegazing guitar work providing tantalising glimpses of their own voice. Opening track Neon Nights has a hint of cockney swagger reminiscent of The Libertines, while the EP's highlight, A Distant Indifference, bounces between heartfelt Neil Hannon crooning and a more Franz-like stomp. The Speakers aren't yet more than the sum of their parts, but there's enough alchemy bubbling underneath the surface to warrant further scrutiny.