Alamos
Alamos have served up a good example of how to make bouncy garage rock. The influence of Franz Ferdinand and therefore Gang of Four is evident, but vocally both tracks on this single are more intense, or as some would call it shouty, most notably in the Chorus of the lead track 'Photograph It'. We're presented with some cracking, sometimes subtle guitar rifts that would, alongside the stomping drum beat, lend themselves well to being remixed.
There is a really strong live feel to both tracks and if you shut your eyes you can imagine you have the band playing in front of you. They have chalked up an impressive list of support slots for the likes of Biffy Clyro, Aereogramme and The Subways, just a random sample of those who have had their crowds fired up by this highly rated Scottish three piece.
Neither track, 'Photograph It' or 'Lights Out', really stand head and shoulders above the other. One of the plus points of picking up singles in the early stages of a bands career is that every track is treated as a selling point and so rarely is the b-side just any old filler. However the one concern on this evidence is that there may not be too much variety on their forth-coming debut album, although it will certainly be one worth looking out for.
Oh and by the way fact fans, Alamos already have their name engraved in rock n'roll history: they featured on the last ever John Peel playlist.