On their website, Death in Public namecheck bands such as My Bloody Valentine, the Jesus and Mary Chain and Joy Division, but they seem to have left some others off the list too. The opening track, Start A Fight, could fit in well with the punky pop of the Undertones, and the singer’s voice does have an edge of Feargal Sharkey about it.

The other two tracks on this single sound a lot more like their named influences, especially the 80s indie and Placebo influences. Seas of tight guitars that swirl around creating a dark, menacing feel, particularly on the final track Vincent Vega.

This is a good strong debut release for a band, although it falls down a bit because it just sounds so much like other music that’s around. It’s early on, and there’s plenty of time for the band to build on their own sound.

Death in Public

Lucky Lucky Pigeons are trying to claim the indie-pop crown that was once held by Bis. Like Bis, they focus on speedy pop with catchy choruses and handclaps. But with a heavy reliance on the drum machine to provide the backing, they sound a lot more tinny. This is their only weakness, as the songs do come across as fun, but without a heavy bass end they lack that immediate impact.
Lucky Lucky Pigeons
Freedom Road Records

The reoccurring theme throughout this EP is that of tension and darkness. While Michael Weatherburn sings in that unexpectedly deep voice of his, what really stands out is the bits between and underneath the singing. The lead track, ‘These Rumours’ sets the mood, with guitars working against each other slowing racking the tension higher and higher, building up to a final guitar battle at the end. This relentless approach continues in the rest of the EP. In the second track ‘Someone’s Coming’, Michael begins to fight back, and ends up singing as if trying to escape from a trapped room (or the clutches of the rest of his bandmates).

What ties the vocals and the guitars and all together are the remarkably strong songs. The bands that the Half Rabbits have often been compared to (Interpol, Editors et al) would have sold their souls for songs like these. If Interpol had this level of song writing, their albums would actually be listenable. So thank God the Half Rabbits have them instead.

The Half Rabbits
Punk Elvis Records