South Londoners The Maccabees not only have to contend with the hundreds of angry young men playing music in Lahndahn , they now have to live up to their tag of constantly being called the best new band in Britain. But rest assured �First Love� gives it a darn good shot. In fact, seldom do a band come along so fully formed for taking a country. �Do you miss home?� weeps Orlando Weeks like Robert Smith�s heartbroken little bro amidst a shuffle of Bloc-beats and Kim Wilde strumming. Then it bursts completely naturally and unforced into a ray of spiky-Strat sunlight. They�ve managed to make the turmoil that life throws at you sound every bit as vital and romantic as it certainly isn�t. An intriguing few spins and consider this essential.
