Mojave 3 - Breaking the Ice

Mojave 3 are a British four-piece who were indie rockish, and now make a stab at being poppy. It's very listenable, but it's very samey. All the right ingredients are deployed: the jangly guitars are here, the crisp drums are here, the metronomic bass line present, and ultimately the same sound you've heard before. It's all good, but you pray for something a little weird to happen, like a bongo drum solo, or the overdubbed noise of some bees or breaking glass. Anything to make this memorable as well as likeable. [Keir Hind]