Friendly Fires - Paris

It’s hard to truly judge the merits of a record that features a cowbell because the king of percussion instruments can make any piece of music sound great.

So the latest single from three-piece outfit Friendly Fires is off to a good start particularly when combined with a trancey reverb, galloping break beats and pacey Latin groove. But then their cheery Hot Chip flow and urbane thoughts of moving to Paris are interrupted by a boringly anthemic star-gazing chorus. It may be brief but it slightly taints what was a slick piece of danceable rock.