Oh800

Click on the URL link to oh800’s website and you’re swiftly directed to a screen with a cartoonish image of a credit card alongside their debut single ‘Character Building’. Adult life and all of its formalities doesn’t seem to be embraced by oh800, describing their songs as being about ‘internal freak-outs, feeling like a kid in your 30s and getting ripped off’.

The London three-piece seem to have a penchant for youthful, pop art imagery and their music certainly reflects their playful sense of humour. ‘SHOULDA KNOWN IT’ is their funky second effort, detailing the siren-like allure of an ex-lover. Utilising the scattergun guitar rhythms of White Denim and Talking Heads, oh800 create something danceable yet ever-so-slightly absurd.

Swaying along with organ leads, bleeps and a nice bit of cowbell, ‘SHOULDA KNOWN IT’ sails the familiar crest of new wave, bashing into funky grooves and vocal melodies that borrow from the free-flowing utterances of David Byrne. The sound shifts on the bridge to reveal influences like Editors and Interpol, showing that the band collect from a wide variety of solid musical sources to forge their catchy alt-pop sound.

Words by Nad Khan

Tipped by Rob Platts