Sunday 24 January 2010

Spaghetti Anywhere EP Review


One of the brilliant things about writing Aye Tunes is that every now and then I get sent something from nowhere, from a band I'm completely unaware of, that I completely fall in love with. This is one of those times.

Spaghetti Anywhere are Francis Cullen and Valerio Cerini, London based housemates. I think Valerio hails from Rome, while one listen to vocalist Francis betrays him away as a Scot. A longer listen shows that the Scottish influence is one that runs through the band. Rather than be seduced by whatever trendy haircuts and musical scene is currently the hip thing in London, Spaghetti Anywhere wouldn't be out of place on an old C86 compilation tape.

Calling to mind bands like The Pastels, Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian can be more of a blessing than a curse - you probably trip over half a dozen Belle and Sebastian copyists any time you walk down a street in Glasgow - but if you can pull it off it can sound delightful. Spaghetti Anywhere do more than just pull it off, they do it magnificently.

Reinforcing those Scottish 80s influences opening track Gregory's Girl not only lifts the title of John Gordon Sinclair's finest moment, but also a brief sample from the film. It's no exercise in nostalgia for the sake of it though, it - like the rest of the EP - is infectious, incredibly catching and as sweet and charming as a very sweet & charming thing. George Clooney perhaps. I've embedded Gregory's Girl below for the moment so you can have a wee listen for yourself.

Living in London plays into the band's songs too, most particularly on Love Again, where the casual references fit naturally into the lyrics, rather than feeling shoehorned in.

If you like your indie-pop get your ears round this, one of the best debuts I've heard in ages, there's not a bad song in the four. Being London based has kept Spaghetti Anywhere off my radar before now, but now they are on it I just might be in love with them. None of the EP tracks are on the band's MySpace so far, but don't let that stop you dropping by and listening to what they do have up.

All in the Spaghetti Anywhere EP is an unexpected delight, and well worth the 13 minutes of your time it'll take to listen to. Just don't blame me for all the additional time you lose on listening again, and again, and again...

The EP is released on February 22nd on Toy Soldiers Records. It'll be available as a digital download and 10" vinyl. You should be able to order it from either the band or label websites below.



3 comments:

  1. Great stuff! Completely off my radar too, brilliant find.

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  2. Like Ian said. A new one to me and I likes a lot!

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  3. lovin it! really like the incredible hulk song.

    i want to listen to it again now :)

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