Miaow Miaow Summertime for a Lifetime

Luxembourg's Miaow Miaow are a national power pop super group of sorts. Formed last summer, they comprise members of such wonderfully named bands as Do Androids dream of electric sheep and Treasure chest at the end of the Rainbow. The side project has quickly turned into a very active band, and they've already gigged with Modest Mouse, Dartz, and the Kaiser Chiefs. Their self released debut is packed with commercially viable alternative rock of the highest standard. Summertime for a Lifetime fizzes with the kind of unabashed optimism that Ash could unleash at the peak of sprung buoyancy. It's characterized by superb melodies, and a great balance of tacked on shouting and in key murmuring.

Eschington DC is one of the best songs of 2007. There's the sunburned feeling of Annie Christian's Nothing is Real and the anthemia of Teenage Fanclub, blended against a perfect radio pop punk tempo. It details escape from the mundane admirably. The chorus screams "we've got ambition" like a rollercoaster in loop. Fourteen Years has a similar spring to Weezer and the drive of Mission of Burma's straightforward moments. The endearing harmonies of Driving Licence are worthy of Feeder circa Polythene. Repetition that "you told me right but I say left" in Ken Stringfellow tones is wonderfully evocative. The Edge marries melody and discord in a similar fashion to Read music Speak Spanish. Like Desaparecidos, there's a sense of the apocalypse wrapped in hangover, albeit here it's balanced by a largely upbeat chorus. Summerend has epic serenity like the Posies' Frosting on the Beater, and the hazed drive of Nu Clear Sounds.

Few releases are as straightforward and captivating as this. These are great pop songs made to soundtrack sunshine, and have the potential to reach a far wider audience than the current run of 500 copies suggests. Summertime for a Lifetime shows glimpses of wonderful promises. This album is almost an audible smile.

. . .

To listen to samples and purchase copies of the album please visit http://www.myspace.com/miaowmiaowmusic