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 |  The Lost Patrol BandThe Lost Patrol Band Shock When your band is your job and your life, as is Dennis Lyxzen's The (International) Noise Conspiracy, and all your band mates live in different towns, it makes sense to get a bunch of other mates together, roll out the amps and nut out some power pop. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Drawing inspiration from the "forgotten" sounds of the late seventies and early eighties - think Elvis Costello, the Buzzcocks, The Beat and The Ramones - and you kind of get an idea of where The Lost Patrol Band are coming from. Sadly, whilst the aforementioned bands were breaking new ground in their time, TLPB just seem to be stirring the already nostalgically murky waters. Couple it with the fact that this is Lyxzen's second attempt at an album to woo back his former girlfriend and this reviewer's interest begins to wane. Don't get me wrong though, there are some interesting things going on underneath in places: every guitar line in Golden Times screams taste, for example, but those places are few and far between. Or have I just forgotten how to have fun? Lyxzen and Co. are clearly enjoying themselves. Besides, how much do you really need to think in a two-and-a-half minute pop song? I guess my problem is that I'm hearing nothing but a break-up album and if I'm in the mood for that, I'd rather put on Beck's 'Sea Change' or even, gasp, Lenny Kravitz's 'Mama Said'. But if power pop circa 1981 is what you dig then you'll probably dig this.  | |
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