It really takes something special to make a unique sound in this day and age; a time when - thanks to the amount of production techniques at an artist's disposal - virtually any sound is possible. Undaunted, it's hard to think of anyone who sounds quite like the Texan outfit The S-1 Committee. even if the elements which inform their sound can be referenced to several other bands, it's the amalgamation of all these components which provides their unique selling point. To explain these parts in more detailed fashion: there's happy Buddy Holly-style melody, the distorted melodies of Jesus And Mary Chain, the dark atmospheres of post-punk and robotic vocals which could be inspired by recent New York band Hotels as well as the more celebrated Kraftwerk.

Thankfully most of the songs are up to scratch too even if listening to this music can be initially confusing. The 50's pastiche melodies (as on 'Diana' and 'Five-Star Grave') mean that a sense of fun is usually maintained even if the playfulness comes covered in dark shadows. In the case of 'Up And Away' the mood is dark all over as some horror film keyboard motifs dominate, whilst a spindly guitar propels the final track 'Drive To Heaven' and there's an air of Suicide throughout (the band that is, not the act of giving up one's life) in the primtive production. A curious but fascinating record.