'ALL MAPPED OUT'
(single/ PARLOPHONE)
The debut single from this astonishingly cool quintet hitting out of Northampton with stylish rock 'n' roll posturing, The Departure's 'All Mapped Out' is a perfectly anthemic introduction to the band.
'All Mapped Out' is buoyantly anchored by a spikily vibrant guitar riff played out by Sam Harvey, with a certain David Jones on the vocals. David Bowie was once known as David Jones before he deemed it necessary to change his name, and then Glam rock 'n' roll music for ever. Still, this David Jones has nothing to do with that one.
What this band does share in common with Bowie is its love for delivering remarkable melodies, while Ben Winton underscores 'All Mapped Out' with his cool bass groove before the single b-side in 'Dirty Words' ball-busts by being another anthem of the 'instant classic' type, that is dark yet upbeat and streaked with echoes of Joy Division's and Morrissey's poppiest forays into the art of setting moodswings to music.
Bands of Franz Ferdinand's caliber now have some serious competition here, for sure. 4/5
(Steve Rudd)
Release Date: August 2nd.
www.thedeparture.com