The Sunshine Underground - Raise The Alarm

There are two things which need to be instantly forgotten before embarking upon ‘Raise The Alarm’. One is ‘New Yorkshire’, for if the idea even properly existed in the first place, The Sunshine Underground are barely part of it - being from Shrewsbury rather than Leeds - and the sound exhibited in ‘Raise The Alarm’ owes more to the less inebriated of Madchester, and cool New York disco a la The Rapture. The second is Kasabian. Do we need a reason? Oh, go on then - it’s far easier to contemplate the indie/dance hybrid when not considering their pale-in-comparison attempts.

The singles are the obvious stand-outs - ‘Put You In Your Place’ as immediate in context as it is on the dancefloor, ‘I Ain’t Losing Any Sleep’ equally as infectious. Even the previously-nearing-lacklustre ‘Commercial Breakdown’ is given a chance to shine, alongside the aggressive opener ‘Wake Up’, and the feedback-heavy ‘Dead Scene’.

‘Raise The Alarm’ is not only impressive as a debut, but as a successful attempt to make danceable indie that doesn’t require a parka, can of Stella, or affected Mancunian accent. And for that alone, The Sunshine Underground deserve your respect. The songs are pretty ace, too.