Oh dear, oh dear. Madchester: so much to answer for. Backed by XFM’s Clint Boon (former organist with Inspiral Carpets) The Scratch attempt to blend a funky backbeat with rock guitars but end up sounding like a not so red hot Chilli Peppers. Vague lyrics outlining teenage rebellion suggest that this is the product of chaps with more hair on their knuckles than their heads. With Happy Mondays’ era defining classic ‘Bummed’ a sprightly twenty years old, this is perhaps as good a time as any to revisit that dance-rock vibe. But not with records like this, which neither makes me want to dance or rock out – just reach for the ‘stop’ button.
