Stars of CCTV is Hard-Fi’s recently released debut. Its an electic mix of Rock, Funk, Metal and more Club-inspired sampling and mixing. Stand-out tracks include singles Cash Machine and fairly recent release Tied Up Too Tight which sees some highly processed string arrangements firing in and out above the main track. The album moves through songs about Prisons (Feltham Is Singing Out) and the touching ballad Move On Now. It puts me in mind of Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World – piano, vocals and some random samples. The track seems to be the person in the song looking for a better place by flying away.
This is a strong album though. There’s plenty to appeal to many people. Nothing feels like it was made just to be used for singles, and the rest as filler. The song writing and musician-ship is good all the way through, and doesn’t feel overly produced and messed about with. Hard-Fi could be onto big things.