Little Comets // In Search of Elusive Little Comets

Little review of the pop sprites' long overdue debut record for the excellent Fugitive Motel here.

In Search of Elusive Little Comets
Little Comets
Dirty Hit
Released: 31.01.2011

What were Columbia thinking? One can only guess at the contractual wranglings, angry words, ultimatums and fist shaking that went on prior to the label dropping Little Comets in early 2010, but on one thing we can be certain; in a dark corner of Columbia HQ an executives brow is sweating feverishly as it approaches the block, while the sprightly pop brilliance of In Search of Elusive Little Comets ironically soundtracks the bleak scene.

I was charmed by Little Comets prior to the aforementioned struggles, and am therefore delighted that the early singles and demos have made it to the record and received a Rich Costey spruce up. Adultery’s opening lambaste is rapidly followed by the cowbells, howls and infectious riffery of insta-hit One Night in October, before Robert Coles exorcises the strains of the past 12 months with ferocious yelps on Joanna. While intelligent indie-pop may not exactly be en vogue, the market for it undoubtedly remains. Mystery Jets have done a fine job of capturing the ears, hearts and wallets of the mainstream, while the devoted followers of Bombay Bicycle Club and Two Door Cinema Club will no doubt quickly accept Little Comets to their collective bosom.

The band's made-for-radio jangly pop is instantly likeable; Tricolour’s pristine 80s production and Mathilda’s off kilter afrobeat channelling Paul Simon through a Geordie filter. When the tempo temporarily slows on Her Black Eyes and piano-led closer Intelligent Animals, Coles’ vocal drops the dependence on its impetuous idiosyncrasies and carries a drama and fragility akin to Everything Everything.

This is a debut brimful of hits and verve from a band finnaly getting the spotlight it deserves.