'SONGS FOR THE KNITWEAR GENERATION'
(5-track EP/ 2002)
This mint beauty was sent along by Pete of Trilemma fame, as this is a side project he's been working on with fellow Trilemma cohort Rob. And this is a massive style shift compared to the slow, epic nature of Trilemma's emotive offerings.
The Mittens are harder and faster, yet still just as sweet-natured as their other band, both of which are Stoke-based and beginning to bust influential moves in the musical underground such is their originality in songwriting.
Indeed, opening track 'Super Knitwear Girl' is pinned down by a scatty punk vibe, distorted vox and a scuzzy & cool introverted guitar sound, enveloped in an energy that breaks over into 'I Love You To The Power of Everything, Plus One'� which is both the longest and wickedest song title I've heard for a while. And, purely coincidentally, it's one of greatest pop songs I've ever heard as The Mittens bounce into full stride with the kitsch energy of Supergrass and Inter (even if the latter band are no more�).
With my brain in a jar, the sweetness in their 'Indian Summer' song is astounding, the acoustic backdrop reminding of Alt-pop bands such as Belle & Sebastian, Innersleeve, Ben & Jason and Turin Brakes in their most sublime and inspired moments. Yet The Mittens are equally as adept at rocking out, first with 'Look At The Buildings, All Knocked Down' then with EP-closer 'Daphne' during the recording of which it sounds as though Pete and Rob had downed high octane Lucozade by the case-load as the energy overloads.
The most minor of gripes is in the fact that the lyrics are difficult to decipher, but that's a blessing in disguise as it forces you to crank the noise up a shed-load more. And you don't mind doing that when this really is Alt-pop music at its very, most intoxicating best. (STEVE RUDD)
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