Bronze Age Fox - Instrument Pt 1 / Forty Four
[Bagatelle]

Shaped vinyl sure may look pretty, but is this single actually any good once you get past the gorgeous aesthetic? In all honesty, yes - Bronze Age Fox make the kind of kick-ass, sugar coated pop we all need to listen to once in a while.

Unlike their earlier incarnation of sketchy and instrumental folktronica, BAF circa 2004 are a different band altogether. With the addition of vocals and a keen ear for party anthems, they now ooze complete commercial success. And boy, will they get far with tunes this addictive.

A-side 'Instrument Pt 1' sees their more radio-friendly sound, led by horns and an insanely infectious chorus, it comes across like an amphetamine fuelled Belle & Sebastian (had they listened to Prince and not Nick Drake). It's far from experimenting or exploring new ground, just unadulterated fun.

On the other hand, 'Forty Four' showcases BAF's ace rhythm section, driven by a killer bass-line and funk / disco sensibilities.
With yet more catchy melodies and slick production, stardom is inevitable & it won't be long before Dominic Jones is thrusting his sex appeal across our screens - although not an image you may want to picture.

Pure chart-fodder and seriously funky for a bunch of white boys. An insanely limited edition and the first single sold out within a day, so be quick. Alternatively, you could buy it to just flog on eBay.

7/10