Sometimes you hear a song and it stops you in your tracks. Such is the case with the debut single from the Isles Of Scilly’s West Wickhams, whose debut single, ‘He’s Acquired A New Face‘ evokes such happy memories of Flowered Up, early Happy Mondays, New Fast Automatic Daffodils, Gang Of Four and perhaps even Wall Of Voodoo, that it is frankly impossible to resist. Not that they sound particularly like any of those bands, but there are elements of each, which you pick up on with each subsequent listen.
Then there’s the added bonus of the terrific, vintage sci-fi themed video, reminiscent of Barbarella, but you won’t find too many references to pop culture listed in their cited influences, oh no. Those are quoted as being “Whitby Abbey, Pipe Organs, Flowers, Polka Dot Cats, Dark Punk, Gothic Novels, Autobiographies, Castles, Abstract Painting, Euphoria, Mist, Autumn, Halloween, Optical Illusions, Edgar Allan Poe and Andy Warhol.”
Phew. No wonder they sound so fresh and exciting.
