Hotgirl - Blast Off EP

Dublin's Hotgirl have mastered the art of making a meaningful racket. Their debut EP 'Blast Off' arrives with all the subtlety of a brick through a window, yet beneath the chaos lies something more calculated than first impressions might suggest.

Lead track 'In Your Head' nods to Britpop's golden age while adding a distinctly darker edge. It's familiar territory, given a fresh coat of midnight paint, though the blueprint occasionally shows through the new decorating job.

'On The Brink' stands tallest among these four offerings, channelling Courtney Love. Ashley Abbedeen delivers "I don't know what to say; I've only half a brain" with a sneer that could cut glass, while Sophie Boxwell's guitar work slices through the mix like a hot knife.

'Sisyphus' offers a change of pace but doesn't quite find its footing, caught between earworm and endurance test. The EP closes with 'The Stink', a proper knees-up that sees the band at perhaps their most confrontational.

'Blast Off' marks a convincing opening chapter for a band with more ideas than four tracks can contain. Though they occasionally drift into pastiche territory, Hotgirl bring enough raw conviction to suggest they're building something of their own. It's a first step taken at full sprint - not always steady on its feet, but impossible to ignore.