Artsick - Fingers Crossed

Don't believe the truth. The indiepop renaissance is a fallacy because it's never gone away. Need i say it again, but Indiepop Will Never Die (But You Will) etc etc.  Nevertheless, Slumberland, purveyors in chief of countless jangle epiphanies for over 30 years now, do seem to be on a bit of a hot streak again - there's been A LOT of activity these past few years, all deserving of your precious attention. These latest two transmissions speak loudly of the convivial culture of the indiepop underground. Kids On A Crime Spree have been around for a decade, but are only now releasing their debut album, which also happens to coincide with the release of Artsick's first album, a band with whom they share a member. There's an understated community driven quality to indiepop that defines its aesthetic endurance as much as any of the music made itself. And what of that music? Artsick are more obviously West Coast American-sounding, a hot rock distillation of K Records smarts and Touch and Go sass, with endless left-of-the-dial hooks. By contrast, Kids On A Crime Spree seem to channel Slumberland's early noughties foray into Brooklyn, a little Pains, a little Mary Chain and a hell of a lot of Creation buzzsaw melodicism. They both took their time getting here, but they got here together. Keep the flame burning, hand in hand.