If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery then Dogs Die In Hot Cars would have covered XTC in red roses and proposed marriage to them by now. Lead singer Craig Macintosh owes a huge debt to the excitable yelping of Andy Partridge and the songs themselves are the kind of twitchy new wave that Swindon's finest regularly churned out in their early career. Still, there are worse crimes and this Scottish group prove there's mileage in their chosen path. 'Please Describe Yourself' is choc-full of hooks starting with the exuberant art-pop of 'Godhopping' and maintaining a frenetic pace to the end. Only the thoughtful 'Somewhat Off The Way' interrupts the flow but its more mature style hints at an alternative direction that could yet serve them well. Only the modern day-referencing lyricism betrays the idea that this record was made in 1979.
If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery then Dogs Die In Hot Cars would have covered XTC in red roses and proposed marriage to them by now. Lead singer Craig Macintosh owes a huge debt to the excitable yelping of Andy Partridge and the songs themselves are the kind of twitchy new wave that Swindon's finest regularly churned out in their early career. Still, there are worse crimes and this Scottish group prove there's mileage in their chosen path. 'Please Describe Yourself' is choc-full of hooks starting with the exuberant art-pop of 'Godhopping' and maintaining a frenetic pace to the end. Only the thoughtful 'Somewhat Off The Way' interrupts the flow but its more mature style hints at an alternative direction that could yet serve them well. Only the modern day-referencing lyricism betrays the idea that this record was made in 1979.
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