Hard-fi
Stars of CCTV
2005 Necessary Records/Atlantic

Best Tracks: Cash Machine, Stars of CCTV, Middle Eastern Holiday, Hard To Beat, Living For The Weekend
Rating: ****

Nighttime city lights and quiet riots startle the streets as cars course through its veins. The trees reach up with open arms to take in the air. Stepping away from a touch-and-go toast to the moonlight, a girl comes out of the bar with a stray strand from her tied-up hair dangling in a ticklish dance on her neck. There is so much clarity when there is no recollection of the unclear. An underground sound is taking hostage of the wind and injecting it with the perfect soundtrack for the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan menagerie.   

UK Quartet, Hard-fi, has just released their debut record, Stars of CCTV, on Unnecessary Records. The Atlantic subsidiary has done well with getting this band the exposure that it needs and rightfully so. This record displays a freight train of contagious vocal and guitar hooks, hip-swaying bass lines, pocketed rhythms and a commanding headfuck full of storytelling lyricisms. The first track “Cash Machine,” opens up with a syncopated synth line with the timbre of a harmonica. It slides nicely with the low hum of a groove-riding bass and the rolling of the drums. This rockin’ anthem talks about being a poor individual who does whatever it takes to get by. There is a slight early disco meets post-punk vibe as it follows up the likes of the Clash and Pulp. “Middle Eastern Holiday” engages the listener in a fast-moving flow with a nasty wound-tight distorted guitar and punk rock political attitude. Hard-fi’s hit single, “Hard To Beat,” is one of the featured songs on the new album and was recently showcased live on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Audiences were impressed with the bands spectacular stage performance and tight musicianship. A break in the breadcrumb trail leading towards the end of the album is the song “Move On Now.” This song acts as an intermission from the surrounding heavier melodies and harmonies, but fits in setting the mood as it lunges forward with the words “red light blinking in the twilight tracing out a path right out of here and now.” “Living For The Weekend” and “Stars of CCTV” are the catchy songs that work well with the progression of a wild city night that sits just right.  

Stars of CCTV is the perfect collection of music for the listener who wants the best of both musical worlds, both fun and serious. For those of whom like bands such as the Killers, Pulp, Stereo MCs and the Clash, Hard-fi is most definitely the band for you. Retrieve yourself a copy of Stars of CCTV at your local record store now! It has been said that Hard-fi plan on hitting the stage in the United States some time soon. You can keep posted on the inner workings of the English tour de force via http://us.hard-fi.com/ and/or www.myspace.com/hardfi. Rock out like there is no other business!