As the first cut from Civil Civic’s new “double B-side single” begins you’d be forgiven for sighing in dismay at the prospect of yet another fumbled indie anthem. But have no fear: as the ricketiest of guitar lines is torn apart by a gorgeous fuzz ball of a bassline it is clear Civil Civic have quite different intentions. Perched somewhere between Death From Above 1979 and the musings of Kevin Shields, the guitar/bass duo veer close to beauty at times and in the chorus to ‘Run Overdrive’ have a hook to soar over mountains to. Waves of distortion clatter into riffs as hard as fists, yet time and time again fail to lead anywhere. Any shades of psychedelia that threaten to pique your interest are offset by a pretty drab production and starched drum beats.
While their entire sound is so heavily couched in their influences, CC’s own songs lack any original ideas that might set them apart. Unfortunately the band live up to their own smug PR: both these songs might as well be My Bloody Valentine B-sides.
