The Little Kicks hail from Scotland’s very own Granite City, and as if to belie their crude industrial backdrop, with its intensely stormy temperament; beset by onslaughts of icy northern winds, they generate effortless waves of breezy and witty indie pop, that is instantly accessible and has hooks, melodies and genuine warmth in abundance.
Taking their cue from the likes of The Smiths, The Associates, Aztec Camera early Coldplay, not too mention owing a fair debt to Orange Juice’s stylish quirky pop comps, The Little Kicks stride forward armed with a strong catalogue of songs laced with upbeat hooks that are stamped with their own personality; whilst including the finer elements of all of the above.
Steve Milnes harmonious voice glides through the jangly, occasionally angular riffs, alongside prominent funky bass (again nod to O.J.), with all the instruments receiving equal attention in the mix, none take prominence; rather complimenting each other in fine style.
‘Don’t Give Up So Easily’ and ‘Small Talk’ stand out amongst the pack in term of quality, with the later a touching torch song and ‘Don’t’ give…’ being a fair distillation of their overall sound. Amongst all the fine arrangements and sprinklings of pop genius, it can at times feel subdued, lacking the vital spark that kicks things into another gear, ‘Time To Take Over’ hints at the lively energy that they could harness, as it zips along with a range of dynamics and styles, even flirting with 60’s psychedelic whimsy. I think in a live setting with a fervent set of fans, these songs will come alive; lifting them to another plane, in a way the record can’t quite convey. Essential the element that shines through most, is the great melodies on offer, and anyone with an ear for great hooks and harmony won’t fail to follow in love with them.
By rights theses guys should be happily rubbing shoulders with FM radio stalwarts such as Elbow, Travis and Snow Patrol – gracing daytime radio playlists up and down the country (If only such an egalitarian-level playing field existed for talented unsigned bands). For an unsigned band to make such leaps, it might well be a tall order, but with support from an ever-growing national fan base, a wealth of catchy songs at their disposal and some savvy self-promotion, they might just he able to take things to the next level without the aid of a label.