Lucky Jim: Lesbia EP

Lucky Jim were Skint’s first ever guitar band, and such a move might be viewed as a concession to the general consensus that dance music is 'dead'.

Yet, with Lucky Jim, aka Gordon Graham and Ben Townsend, Skint might soon be, er, dancing on dance’s grave. The title track is all Spanish guitar, swoonsome strings, and pleading vocals with a faintly nostalgic air. It’s the kind of thing Lemon Jelly might make if they were influenced by Leonard Cohen. Indeed, a suitably downbeat yet marvellous take on misery guts' classic ‘Hallelujah’ is included here along with blissful new track ‘Somewhere Up Ahead’.

Also, the ‘Lesbia’ EP serves as a perfect synopsis of the Brighton based duo’s fabulous debut album ‘Our Troubles End Tonight’ which refused to sell despite critical acclaim from everyone from The Sun to Word, from Dazed & Confused to, well, us, actually.

Have we ever let you down? No but clearly Skint must be mad for releasing this so close to Christmas. It’ll either be a surprise festive hit or more than likely get swamped under the usual (Yule)tide of crap. Still, the ‘Lesbia’ EP is really rather lovely and deserves to be heard.