Dial F For Frankenstein - USA

Dial F For Frankenstein are a shaggy-haired band from Oxford who began making waves after their track, ‘Wes Vega’, appeared in that so-cool-it-hurts TV drama, Skins – also known as a musician’s one-way ticket to scenester dancefloors across the country. Unsurprisingly, then, the band’s new single ‘USA’ rates pretty damn high on the winklepicker wagging scale.

The track’s influences generally whiff of nostalgic, Uncle Sam-produced alt-rock, as ‘USA’s’ spunky riffs and gurgling bass lines fly towards the listener with youthful conviction. The side-servings of grunge - which while not done as convincingly as other current Seattle Sound pursuers ala Dinosaur Pile-Up - add an appreciated dimension to what could have otherwise been a fun but forgettable pop track.

The mind-boggling lyricism of the chorus (‘I can get away, I can get away, I can get away to the USA if I want to babe…’) may risk sounding amateur, but it is somewhat saved by the musical drop-out, which is speedily fed-back to the listener like lightning seconds later. Add to that dry, sinister sounding vocals, thumping tom-toms and lads generally whamming at their guitars like their life depended on it – and we have ourselves an enjoyable little track here.