1984 is four minutes of pure sonic joy. It creates an upbeat mood quickly, just getting in there and getting on with it.
It is about the dreams of youth and packing as many notes as you can into four minutes. And if it sounds ragged, so what? You want to reach out and join in, as though you are in the front row of one of their gigs. When they are famous, you’ll be able to proudly look your pals in the eyes and say, I was there.
There is a real spareness at the centre, which gives you pause for thought – something a lot of bands forget. They use effects not heard since the glory days of Nirvana, The Pixies and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. The riffs are razor sharp, the lyrics barbed and honed down and the drumming is just a pure, joyous explosion.