HEALTH - HEALTH

First off, kudos to LA's HEALTH for recording, producing and mixing this, their eponymous debut. Removing the middle-man has secured an idiosyncratic and visceral sound. Their pseudo-Gregorian multi-layered vocals and snappy, impressive drumming compliment caustic guitar and synth. In fact, caustic may well be an understatement. At points it's like having a serrated knife pulled backwards through clenched teeth. As to whether the album is any good? Well that's where things get confusing. Certainly the part of you that craves wider social acceptance from happening scenesters who dress much better than you and look 100 times cooler when smoking will love it for its esoteric, Liars-esque skittishness. On the other hand, that nagging little voice - the part of you that still guiltily slips a Queen track onto a jukebox when you think no one is looking - can't help muttering that there just aren't any songs here. [Chris Cusack]