The Blood Arm

“Let’s lay down some f**king hits,” drolls The Blood Arm frontman and all-round king of cool sleaze, Nathaniel Fregoso on their new long player's opening number. The Blood Arm may have announced their arrival in somewhat muted style last year but sweet jesus will new album - ‘Lie Lover Lie’ - garner the band the attention they deserve.

What an absolutely, 24-carat gold record this is. Just when you thought the indie whirlwind had all but run out of blow, The Blood Arm emerge from the duststorm and unleash a corker all of their own creation. If you were blown away the first time you heard The Killers' ‘Hot Fuss’, prepare for the same kind of reaction the first time you run through ‘Lie Lover Lie’; the confident opening mission statement couldn’t be anymore astute.

Confidence is undoubtedly one thing the band - and especially the aforementioned frontman - possess in near illegal amounts. Some may see it as arrogance and when you bear witness to him repeatedly singing with not a trace of irony “I like all the girls / And all the girls like me” (as on lead single ‘Suspicious Character‘) , this might not be far off the mark. But on the other hand, it’s been a long time since we had our rockstars with a bit of pizazz and swagger. Who wants to see Brandon Flowers lurking at the back of the stage looking like his goldfish has just died, when you can have a snake-hipped, mightily-coiffured mentalist like Fregoso gyrating in your face? Exactly. NO-ONE.

Live, The Blood Arm lay waste and light up the room in equal measure. Violently ushering you to dance and marvel simultaneously. Surely a full UK tour must be on the cards shortly. You’d be best advised to catch them when they do. Right now though, there’s this new album to get stuck into; an exceptional slice of pure indie-pop perfection. It is wall-to-wall hits, with the occasional momentary slow-down that also manages brim with charisma - and proves The Blood Arm are no one-trick pony. Amongst the glitterati of their instant smash hits, you’ll find the cautionary piano led ‘Accidental Soul’, the fast-paced ‘The Chasers’ and a newly revamped version of ‘Do I Have Your Attention?’ with added ”whoas” and “yeahs”. While potential highlight ‘Ps. I Love You But I Don't Miss You’ is the perfect centrepiece to tie together the dance and serious relationship elements that The Blood Arm pride in drawing together.

Whether enough people will hear this band is a cause for contention, as bands like Nightmare Of You found out to their peril last year, a perfect music formulae still isn’t enough sometimes. The Blood Arm have all the credentials to be the triumph of the autumn; all signs point to a lot of love coming their way. They're probably going to get enough of it one way or another anyway.