Remember those heady days of 1994, when British music referenced and celebrated itself?  I lived through it. Bought a record every day, went to many a bogshed venue.  Violet Class probably weren’t even born then.  Their debut is a song for the bedroom mirror on a Friday night, loud enough to annoy the neighbours, but sweet enough to leave you smiling.

‘A Night On The Tyles’ has that same feel as an early Oasis record – graphically, sonically and musically (they have supported an Eyebrow Brothers tribute band) – so, it may come as some surprise that they hail from Reading.  The title isn’t a typo, it’s a reference to their hometown of Tylehurst (previous musical prodigy: Mike Oldfield).

Everyone has influences, but it’s what you do with them that count: those of Violet Class are worn as lightly as a cloud, rather than as tight as a manky Mancunian parka.  There is a pleasing, muscular positivity to this song; it’s a dizzying, refreshing three minutes.  It shouldn’t work, but somehow does. Violent Class are offering us something different, but quintessentially timeless. Not so much an exercise in nostalgia, but a statement of intent.

‘Out On The Tyles’ is out now on iTunes.

 

Kev McCready