From the dusty remains of AUDIO KARATE comes INDIAN SCHOOL with ‘The Cruelest Kind’ – a six track EP that arrives like a fresh blast of air.
Frontman Arturo Barrios will be the first to admit that his vocal is reminisce of Julian Casablancas of THE STROKES, and though band do also take some musicial nods from the New York indie maestros, that’s just one of many elements of their sound – 90s emo, pop-punk and straight up pop all make an appearance, all presented within honest, forthright lyrics and clever song structures.
‘The Cruelest Kind’ is dynamically brilliant and understated sunshine indie-punk, and though it’ll eventually land in March this year, it’s certainly brightened us up in the post-holiday blues of January.
Those looking for beatdowns or breakneck punk would be well advised to look elsewhere, but what Indian School have done here is deliver a six-strong salvo that will appeal to pop-punkers at one end of the scale and the last of the indie generation at the other. The songwriting across the EP stands up to anything we can think of, and the piano and banjo backed closer ‘Head Right’ is nothing short of succinctly excellent.
‘The Cruelest Kind’ is one of the early indicators that 2012 is set to carry as much great music as 2011, and INDIAN SCHOOL have much to be proud of in this debut release.
TOM AYLOTT