Album Focus: Vincent Vincent and the Villains – 'Gospel Bombs'

Hi, I'm Nate Lanxon, and welcome to the Encoded Album Focus show. It's time to put down your crack pipes because we're going to talk about... stuff.

This week's band in focus is Vincent Vincent and the Villains, whose debut album, Gospel Bombs, came out on Monday, so grab your Brylcreem, tuck your fag packet under your t-shirt sleeve, and come with me on a journey back to the 1950s – the year Super Glue was invented!!!

It's been a long while coming really, this album, because Vincent Vincent and the Villains have been knocking around for the best part of four years. Back in those days, front man Vincent Vincent was joined on lead vocal duties by Charlie Waller, who's now busting his trade with The Rumblestrips and Mark Ronson, and back in those days frontman Vincent Vincent was called Mark. Apparently Mark Mark didn't have the same ring to it.

When Charlie left to concentrate on Rumblestrips, Vincent and his Villains wrote a song called 'Johnny Two Bands', basically slagging him off, and it was this track, with its retro rock 'n' roll stylings that pricked up the ears of EMI and landed them a deal.

That bittersweet 'Johnny Two Bands' hasn't made it on to Gospel Bombs speaks volumes about the quality of this album, which kicks off in flamenco fashion with 'Beast', moves through some bluesy doo-wop with 'Sweet Girlfriend', and ends with a haunting croon on 'End of the Night'.

For an album that visits so many musical styles, it's amazingly coherent, and that's because no matter where they decide to take it, it's always within the realms of the rock 'n' roll vibe they've created, and most importantly it's authentic, not pastiche.

Next week our focus band is Neon Neon, the shiny new project from Super Furries frontman Gruff Rhys and electro pioneer Boom Bip, so until then stay indoors. Bye.