Working for a Nuclear Free City - Working for a Nuclear Free City

Taking their peculiar name from a slogan once found on the fair streets of central Manchester, WFANFC evoke more than just their hometown's signposts on their eponymous debut. Unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeves, three tracks in and you're confronted by the familiar Manc swagger of 'Dead Fingers Talking', a thumping homage to the Stone Roses' 'Fool's Gold' in particular. As the album progresses you can identify the impact of other great '90s indie acts: 'Over' is pure Laser Guided Melodies-era Spiritualized, while next track, 'So' launches itself as a masterclass in Kevin Shields revisionism; all fuzz and echo-soaked vocals. By no means derivative though, WFANFC are smart enough to update the classic sounds they reference. 'Pixellated Birds' and the Eno-esque 'The Tree' hint at the band's sophisticated electronically-enhanced production skills, an element of their sound that informs the kind of complex, textured shoegaze contemplation you'd find in the work of artists like Ulrich Schnauss and Pluramon. Melodic. 2006.

1) The 224th Day
2) Troubled Son
3) Dead Fingers Talking
4) Pixelated Birds
5) Quiet Place
6) The Tape
7) England
8) Over
9) So
10) Innocence
11) Home
12) Fallout
13) Forever
14) High Tree