snakes and ladders presents - worthless originals

It all kicks off with Morgan (Does It Offend You Yeah)’s other band Plugs. Their song, She Is Unique, is a conversational afrobeat number that ponders: “Trendspotters and trends, will it never end?” before proclaiming “The noise will do the same, the noise will do me in.” over jerky Fraggle Rock riffs. The album continues the label’s board game theme by taking us on a monopoly-like adventure across London, with emerging acts stepping forwards from Hackney to New Cross. Winners include art poppers The Total Drop with their Sunday-cool number ‘Aztechnique’, and the infectiously danceable, indie-squatters Ratty Rat Rat (‘Lavender Hill Mob’) with their ridiculously catchy “lalalalalalala” bits. Arthouse boy/girl duo John & John offer up some beautiful philosophical questionings with ‘Make Your Mum Be Proud’ - something they’ve clearly achieved. Also, the fairground ride compilation closer ‘Lonely Way To Celebrate’ by the lovely Jack Shirt also shines, with it’s gentle lullaby vocals and sleepy guitars. Of course, it’s not all perfect. Roaring Twenties’ bouncing Brighton seaside sounds neither excel or repel, and the same goes for the Figleaves crazy space sensibilities. Others can be hellishly boring, such as the post-punk act Catnap, while the pantomime funk punk of Shock Defeat features vocals reminiscent of vintage horror film narration. Hot Chip-endorsed or not, the track grates and the band should be chucked straight into jail.