Motormark
Chrome Tape

Scots boy/girl duo Motormark sound like Sonic Youth with a side helping of Ladytron. Digital hardcore with a precise balance between the digital and the hardcore. Solid electro beats with retro synth and grunge guitar. Vocalist Jane Moroto has perfected that blend of warmth and icy coldness that's needed over an electronic backing, sounding strangely exotic at times whilst simultaneously being very Scottish indeed. Marko PoloRoid provides a similarly harrowing male voice accompaniment. They look the part, too - like emotionless Numanoids with a fine line in raving androgyny. Like a robot Roxette, perhaps.

But here also is a set of songs that more than justify the flashy attention-grabbing appearance. Songs that, if they weren't punk'd, ranted and distorted, could easily attract a huge audience. Both 'Blame' and the single 'Eat Drink Sleep Think' have chart-bothering choruses, and I swear 'Hold Your Toungue' used to be by The Who. Similarly, 'I'm About To Do Something (That I'm Gonna Regret)' both works with and transcends the stylistic production to become a fine piece of pop-punk. There are some full-on electro moments too - 'The Beat' and 'Flow Chart' - which, while less successful, are nonetheless interesting. Pick of the bunch, though, is 'God Only Knows', a perfect combination of cold electronics and heartfelt vocals. Very much like a robot Roxette.