Band of the Week: The Drums

With the charts a mish-mash of Wino wannabes, manufactured pop acts, samey Euro dance and watered down R 'n' B, the time is surely ripe for a darkened 1950s surf-pop revival, spearheaded by our current new faves The Drums.

The rather gorgeous foursome, hailing from Brooklyn, combine a curious mixture of mid-80s Factory Records guitar sounds with 1950s jaunty du-wop, and manage to come up with something completely new and fresh-sounding the process. They also happen to be the perfect soundtrack for October, their upbeat melodies and moody guitars perfectly fitting the schizophrenic sunny/wintry weather we're experiencing at the moment.

Let's Go Surfing, their debut single on Moshi Moshi, has an infectious whistle-y bit that you'll keep you in whistles for weeks, yet still manages to retain that dark, 80s sound. Citing a range of influences ranging from The Wake and Joy Division to the Shangri-Las, it's easy to see where they gained their penchant for both barren bass sounds *and *cheery vocals.

Of course, they don't actually surf themselves, describing themselves as a group who "like the idea of surfing and watching it, but don't actually surf". Hmm, I suppose they stand around on the beach looking all pouty and sultry then. And on their website, they continue...."We only write about two feelings: one is the first day of summer when you and all of your friends are standing on the edge of a cliff watching the sun set and being overcome with all of your hopes and dreams at once. The other is when you're walking alone in the rain and realize you will be alone forever."

Slightly bipolar perhaps, but with the promise of great things to come. Who wants bland and samey anyway?

www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever