Manchester Music 'Demo of the week'

Featuring former members of MM favourites The Clerks, this Anglo / Gallic outfit have a bigger sound that builds on their previous inventive new wave sounds. “Echoin’ ” is a swirling crash of keyboards and guitars, punctuated by firm, driven bass lines and an underlying alt.rock theme. The chorus punches out with an 80’s indie splendour and elsewhere it’s obvious this is a band with an ambition to fill bigger stages. Maudite Dance have an agenda that essentially embodies an alternative spirit and energy that’s equally as obvious on the widescreen riffs of “Underground”. There’s a sound here that preserves the dark core in a body that beats with a pop heart and the track growls as much as it sparkles. “The Dissidents” is of course a visit back to the song written by former members of The Clerks and it’s sensible to bring such a sharp and memorable track with them. Maudite Dance storm into new territories with an appetitive for angular but lush rock sounds, alternative and soul crushing melodies, set to clockwork beats – it’s very probably the sound of the future – I hope so.

MMMM ½

JA