They claim to have invented a new style of music called Stomp, even though the genre was established 80 years before them. They break the cardinal musician's rule and cite The Beatles and Radiohead as influences. They are self-proclaimed 'angry young men'. And they are from New Zealand.

So expectations weren't exactly soaring upon first finding out about The Stomps. In my experience, young men who claim to be angry, are only trying to justify a cliche rock'n'roll frown in a deseperate attempt to look cool and hide the fact their music is shit.

So I sweated on the first 10 seconds of One More Night, worried it was just another rehashed indie dancefloor beat. Then suddenly... a lazy voice drenched in whiskey twisted my arm. Clever lyrics, harmonies, and a fantastically simple middle section. I listened some more, and more, and more. And to cut a long story short, I'm still listening, 3 days later.

I was wrong to judge so quickly. This duo can cite any influence, pull any facial expression, and call their music whatever the fuck they want. This is bitter-post-modern-antipodean-stomp at its finest.

"The bitch has done it again. She's leading to the heart of another good man".

MP3: The Stomps - One More Night

MP3: The Stomps - The Bitch Has Done It Again

ps... that Splendid Grass thingy is on 4-5 August this year (unofficially)...