New Moscow - Come On Up / Go Rebel Go

New Moscow is the solo project of Swedish guitar impresario, songwriter and all around musical busy-body, David Fransson. When not making swoony Americana pop in the mould of Dinosaur Jr infused with axe handling a certain bespectacled Brit would be proud of, Fransson also lets rip in Division of Laura Lee - a band which have a rare essence of being able to simultaneously shoe-gaze and knock ten barrels of shit out of each other.

So with that in mind, it is safe to assume that New Moscow are the outlet for Franssons slightly less aggressive and peddle-to-the metal material, a transition that is made quite seamlessly. This is proved by the leading track on this, the first release from Verse, Chorus, Worse which far from being loud or brash is an understated pop gem that probably doesnt do itself justice. Constantly threatening to break into the sort of uplifting chorus the neatly arranged verses deserve, the refrain of Come On Up never quite fulfils its promise.

B-side Go Rebel Go is similar in its subtlety but is more content to float along at an ambling pace than the title track, as Franssons relaxed vocals and trebly guitar flourishes combine to make a track which is definitely pleasant, but by no means dull.

Jack Shankly