How would you know if you'd found the perfect pop song? Would it sound damn catchy from the first time you heard it, and get better and better with every listen? Now I shan't be so bold as to suggest that Hummel have written the perfect pop song quite yet, but they certainly are heading in the right direction.

Their previous single Squish City displayed their love for melody and catchy hooks but was let down by it's low-budget recording. 'Rhythm Riots' on the other hand, was produced by the legend behind recordings of Custard, You Am I, Powderfinger - Wayne Connolly - and you can definitely hear the difference. 'Rhythm Riots' has captured Hummel's pure pop sound with a quality recording that lets the joy in their well-crafted songs shine for itself. Their development as songwriters is most noticeable in the complexity of the guitars and tightness of the drums. Inevitably there's initial comparisons to You Am I, especially with the occasional horns (reminiscent of 'Hourly Daily'), but after this cursory glance, Hummel's development is evident. It's hard to pick a stand out track from these six solid songs as each is strong in its own right. Melody and hooks abound, along with a Hammond organ in Always Know. Sigh sees Hummel displaying a cruisey sweet ballad side to this normally upbeat pop/rock band. You'll hopefully be hearing Better Feeling on the radio, a classic piece of catchy indie pop showing that they can rock out with the best of them. Hummel are likely to take the pop/rock fans of the nation by storm with their 'Rhythm Riots'.

Scott Berry

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