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Maximo Park are a band that at times resemble a more angular and lithe update on Pulp, they have the eccentric frontman with a gift for arch one liners and individual style choices, the art school sensibilities and most importantly the songs; towering pop songs that invite you in with infectiously catchy melodies, then lacerate you with their pointy edges and razor sharp lyrical bite. Building a reputation as a frenetic live act, Maximo Park are already one of those buzz bands this year - and with a handful of thrilling singles under their belt, debut album A CERTAIN TRIGGER has little left to do really, than join the dots.
Following The Futureheads, this is another band not afraid to sing in their regional accents - frontman Paul Smith offering up his Newcastle tones with upfront pride, refusing to do that usual mid atlantic drawl that so many rock singers tend to fall back on. It injects songs like SIGNAL AND SIGN and THE COAST IS ALWAYS CHANGING with a character and colour missing from far too many bands music these days.
Indeed, Paul Smith is a presence that informs everything Maximo Park do - an enigmatic frontman live and an engaging force in interviews, its his character and mannerisms that seep through the entire album. Every guitar jerk and vocal inflection seems defined by his fingerprints, those tight suits and dodgy comb over spring to mind at every opportunity.
Its the songs though, that are the real bona fide stars here - the singles APPLY SOME PRESSURE, GOING MISSING, GRAFFITI you already know, big jerking indie rock classics one and all. The kind of thing indie dancefloors have been crying out for since the last Franz Ferdinand album, angular guitar jerks and frenetic drum beats vying for attention, Paul Smith dropping his arch vocal melodies over the top and completing his transformation into a Jarvis Cocker for the new generation.
It's ACROBAT that throws up the biggest surprise here though, a genuinely warm and romantic slice of synth pop that sounds like U2 being shown a good time by The Human League, Paul Smith working in spoken word poetic monologues before launching onto soaring epic melodies that make Bono and co look very small indeed by comparison.
Maximo Park are looking like a band set to enjoy a very good year ahead of them, sold out live shows, a string of great singles and now a fantastic debut album are already in the bag. A CERTAIN TRIGGER is a record full of jagged pop songs and indie-rock charm, expect Maximo Park to be this years Franz Ferdinand before the year is out.

Maximo Park consists of Tom English (drums), Duncan Lloyd (guitars), Paul Smith (vocals), Archis Tiku (bass guitar) and Lukas Wooller (keyboards).
We live in Newcastle Upon Tyne, the place where we met and which birthed our songs.
We write pop songs about real life.
We have no desire to mythologise our existence.
We take things with a pinch of salt from time to time.
Paul joined last, like an elusive jig-saw puzzle piece. The last two years have been spent telling people who we are, by, amongst other things, releasing our own red 7" slab of vinyl. This led Warp Records to us. They are now our benefactors and co-conspiritors.
If you want to know more, just ask.
Taken from www.maximopark.com

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