Cazals - Comfortable Silence

From one of London's most vital new labels; the goldmine that is Young and Lost, comes the third single from Cazals; the city's most dapper gang since Ronnie Kray's funeral procession. As it happens, ‘Comfortable Silence' is a case of third time lucky for a band who seem to have a foothold on their sound after a while of tusseling with the stigma of a dozen faceless East-London grot and roll bands long since resigned to Rhythm Factory compilations. The pulsating bass rumble and serrated guitars which frame singer Phil Cazal's all-too-relatable musings are definitely more Gang of Four than Gang of Gin, with Phil himself sounding like Paul Weller after twenty menthol cigarettes; less angry, more resigned.

However it's the B-side ‘Cost' that steals the plaudits with its rolling drums and pithy rhymes giving way to a wonderfully jaunty racket complimented by a combination of football chanting and carefully arranged three part harmonies. Of course, this is by no means a total departure from earlier singles; (‘Bounder and a Cad' and ‘Poor Innocent Boys) the band's hallmarks are all still as strong as ever; the prominent, looping basslines and staccato guitar parts still intertwining, but it is definitely a lengthy step in the right direction.

Jack Shankly