I could waste loads of time reviewing the new Alphabeat single ‘The Spell’ section by section, verse to chorus, chorus to bridge and right back the final chorus. But I’m not going to do that.

Basically, it’s a bit rubbish and wouldn’t go a miss on ‘Greatest Hits of the 90s’ compilation you’d pick up in a service station for £3.
A bit *too* 90s. A bit *too* cheesy. A bit *too* clean and sparkly. Dare I say it, a bit *too* pop? Now I have nothing against pop, but this just doesn’t hit the spot…



The band got dropped from their record label late last year, only to be picked up by Polydor in March of this year. But let’s face it, they’re not going to be remembered for much more than ‘Fascination’ are they? You remember, that somewhat annoying song that you can not help but sing along to which is currently being used in the Diet Coke ad.

On a complete tangent, if you still hate that song, I must urge you to, anytime you use a word ending in ‘-ation’, try and squeeze it into that song. Some personal favourites:

- You see a drunk boy/girl pathetically trying to come onto someone – “Desperation! Woah oh, woah-oh-oh-oh!”

- You spot a rather sweaty person with ever-so attractive pit marks – “Perspiration! Woah oh, woah-oh-oh-oh!”
- … You get the idea.

Long story short, Alphabeat will only be remembered, if at all, for ‘Fascination’.