The
much anticipated first fruits of the collaboration between
Malcolm Ross, the elder statesman of Postcard pop (Josef K/Orange
Juice/Aztec Camera) and The Low Miffs, Glasgow’s young
pretenders to the Post-Punk/Pure Pop throne.
Bristling with the kind of effervescent guitar-play you’d
expect from a Postcard veteran, the single The Man Who Took on
Love flits effortlessly from its Television-esque intro and explodes
into the self-same virtuoso territory once occupied by both Sparks
and The Associates, with an appreciative vocal nod in the direction
of both Bowie and Scott Walker.
Ambitious? Yes, but in possessing an almost indecent array of
collective musical dexterity, they carry it off with great aplomb!
This is only one facet of The Low Miffs and Malcolm Ross, but
gives some indication of what to expect from the stylistic diversity
flaunted on the forthcoming, one-off, album.
“For those who've whiled away nanoseconds
pondering just how Scott Walker and David Bowie might have sounded had they
formed a surf guitar band, The Low Miffs and erstwhile Josef K guitarist Malcom
Ross have the answer.”
The Skinny 4/5
“Featuring some quite brilliantly
controlled playing weaving lovely patterns around singing
that is part Associates, part Sparks, this is sonic sunshine
to light up the darkest room.”
Scotland on Sunday 5/5
"Collaborating with pop-punk
Glaswegians The Low Miffs, Ross' signature is evident. Indeed
when he sings, pitching tremulously - to the left of Edwyn
Collins on 'Kind of Keen', the skittish pop is compelling.
On 'Mankind' with Low Miffs' Leo Condie doing the honours,
it's more like Russell Mael wrestling with Kurt Weill"
Uncut 4/5 |
