Having recently signed their debut album to French Inide label Naive, the three members of We Have Band are now gearing up for a full year of live dates across the world, starting this month with their official UK album tour. This UK band has spent the last two years building its fan base and its reputation as a live act. The band’s sound is influenced by many including ESG, Talking Heads, Joy Division, and LCD Soundsystem. The debut album, WHB, is due for release on the 5th April.

Opening track ‘Piano’ provides the first clue as to the distinctive sound this band has created. The song leads off with simple piano notes and a booming bass rhythm, adjacent to an absolute monster of a melody that is sure to lodge in the minds of listeners. It’s a powerful opener and a standout here. ‘Buffet’ is a song that meanders along with the vocal travelling at double the speed of the instrumental backing, before they both come into sync. It’s a combo of Radiohead and Joy Division, and ranks high on the quality scale. Dance comes sharply into focus with ‘Divisive’ and its synth sounds and pulsating bass rhythm. It’s also upbeat, sports another solid melody with that Joy Division influence back with a vengeance. ‘Oh’ is another Joy Division- influenced song set firmly on a mission to conquer dance floors, and if it doesn’t I’ll eat my hat.

‘How To Make Friends’ is firmly grounded in pop-rock with an unmistakeable dance vibe and choruses that are sure to bombard the radio airwaves. ‘Honeytrap’ is cloaked in reflective darkness, and a jagged dance vibe that will have dance floor patrons singing out its repeated refrain. ‘Hear It In The Cans’ is a driving, rocky dance tune with an out-of-sync set of solo and backing vocals which meet for a few moments, and then wander off again on their own distinct paths.

The album continues to throw out hot dance tunes before ‘Hero Knows’ arrives with its stuttered electronic backdrop to end an album that could well find its way to the year-end list of top dance albums of 2010. There’s melody-to-burn, diversity of pace and mood, strong production values, and enough hooks to empty the Atlantic.

4/5

Tour Dates

26 March Sheffield @ Bungalows and Bears, 27 March Brighton @ Coalition, 28 March Cardiff @ Cardiff Arts Centre, 31 March Birmingham @ Hare and Hounds, 1 April Manchester @ The Kazimier, 6 April Glasgow @ Captain’s Rest, 7 April Edinburgh @ Sneaky Pete’s, 8 April London @ Kings College, 9 April Nottingham @ Bodega Social Club, 10 April Bristol @ Thekla