Some bands have the talent, but simply come along at the wrong time. It’s arguable whether electro-pop twosome I was a Cub Scout could have ever really had a ‘moment’ where they could’ve made their millions on overly their sugary twee synth odes, but they still certainly knew how to make a tune that made you want to close your eyes and sway in a kind of indie-disco way.
It’s been three years since the duo split, and though the two have gone on to work on various projects (if you’ve been unfortunate enough to see La Roux live, you may have seen former IWACS member William Bowerman drumming in the background), there’s not been anyone there to step up and fill the void. Boston’s Young Minds probably has his sights set slightly higher than playing 100 capacity clubs, having a lukewarm debut and receiving minor press in his career, but in amongst the various hints and nods in his work, there’s a certain cubiness that is almost impossible to shake. It is, invariably, in a good way, and in a contemporary manner – thee’s enough dream pop in here to get a thousand anonymous bloggers hyped and a couple of no-budget labels sheepishly asking for a limited-release cassette E.P., but it’s cuddly at the same time. As opposed to the cold distance of his contemporaries, there’s a certain warmth and humility on display, as well as the willingness to craft a conventional pop song, even if the end result doesn’t always match the intent. There’s almost certainly never going to be a time for this kind of stuff, but there doesn’t really need to be – this will sound just as good in 10 years time.
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