Friendly Fires — Friendly Fires

Holy dance party, Batman! This Hertfordshire, England-based group have come roaring out of their own proverbial bat cave with an ebullient debut of house party-ready pop music. The group have successfully combined disparate musical elements into something uniquely their own by smashing together loose pop hooks with driving electro-flash beats and a forceful-but-hushed, near shoegazey vocal delivery. Opener "Jump In The Pool" does just that, with both feet, in a drunken, e-soaked reverie. The melody will stick with you for days, battling the cacophony of piercing rave whistles circa 1993 clattering in the background. "Paris," the best thing on the disc, doesn't exactly evoke the city of lights, but it sure makes you want to dance under some flashing ones. Friendly Fires' debut is an assured and enjoyable first kick at the can.

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