Sportique - Modern Museums

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 13 / 2 / 2002

---

Review

Sportique isn't really a group. It is an underground indie supergroup consisting of ex members of the Razorcuts, Tallullah Gosh, Heavenly, Marine Research and the Television Personalities. This new mini album throws at us nine tracks in 24 minutes 8 seconds, starting off with the title track which is punky indie pop at its most bitter, like a tuneless Paul Weller. It rocks in an uncomplicated way, its statement "I'm a real artist". Yeah, we agree. 'Cerebral Vortex' kicks off in early 80's fashion, and has the grace of early new waveisms all over it. The intro is pure Bunnymen. 'Art and Shopping' is wimpy the Only Ones, with charming keyboards by new Tender Trap girl Amelia Fletcher. 'How Many Times'is reminiscent of the punkish Elastica of 'Line Up', but tells the sort of tale which might have appeared on Blur's 'Parklife'and has a Phil Daniels style narration. 'The Dying Fly' has the cheek to rip off the introduction of 'Pretty Vacant' and then to sing a song about chasing a pussy cat in a cockney accent. 'Suture' is sixties garage with a Buzzcocks/Only Ones one. 'Definition 79' is a tribute to those punk days we are all so fond of freaming of. 'Icestorm' meanwhile brings Sportique's Sleeper/Kinks-isms to the fore, and is possibly also their take of the Searchers during their Merseybeat era or maybe even the Byrds. 'Obsessive', however, is Jam fuelled. Sportique are fun and as long as you take them with a pinch of salt, then that is the way to enjoy the band and this CD. If they get beyond filling small venues, however, then be very afraid.

Track Listing:-

1 Modern Museums
2 Cerebral Vortex
3 Art and Shopping
4 How Many Times
5 The Dying Fly
6 Suture
7 Definition Seventy Nine
8 Icestorm
9 Obsessive

Label Links:-

http://matineerecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/matineerecord