Oh you pretty things!
While former band mate Pete Doherty staggers towards that well worn (but clichéd) rock 'n' roll path marked "self destruction and tabloid notoriety" Carl Barat keeps his counsel and heads for the route marked "Arcadia – one spanking debut album away".
His new cohorts Dirty Pretty Things deliver a rollicking slice of rock 'n' roll fun on their debut single here that musically and lyrically takes up from where the last Libertines album left off. Raw, ragged Kinks-ish guitar work is married to Barat's rasping vocals which sound even more determined than usual as he delivers the chorus "Bang, bang you're dead / let's put all the rumours to bed". While it's not quite as magical or melodic as The Libertines' finest moments, it's a more than welcome pre-cursor to forthcoming debut album "Waterloo To Anywhere" and evidence that while they may never escape the shadow of the past they certainly won't disgrace the memory.