If it’s true that ‘the worst album will always be the last one,’ as Ben Parker, vocalist/guitarist of sadly departed Croydon duo Nosferatu D2 quips in characteristically deadpan manner on ‘A Footnote,’ from his own band’s debut (and only) album ‘We’re Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise,’ then I’d love to hear what proceeded this ten track release; profoundly, at times bruisingly honest music with its idiosyncrasies and flaws left intact for all to see, the Parker brothers grasp lo-fi and take it into new areas of depressive brilliance. Redolent of countless artists but indebted to few, Nosferatu’s chaotic yet somehow purposeful approach as documented on morose standout ‘2 People, 0 Superpowers’ and unhinged ‘Mojo Top 100’ demonstrates once more how artistic invention, irreverence and a canny eye for the absurdities of popular culture can make for a far more effective and endearing listen than most mainstream music you’ll hear this year, off key vocals and an a minimalistic production job contributing rather than detracting from their intriguing charm.

Genre-wise the brothers hop from post-rock to post-punk, grunge to ‘real’ indie in the matter of a few beats, echoes of everyone from Biffy Clyro to The Lemonheads audible throughout. What does remain consistent however is the stripped down vibe, the unrefined and frank authenticity of these tracks that, in many ways, makes it unsurprising that these guys were not destined for longevity... scabrous and unforgettable. Worth a look for the track titles alone, (‘I Killed Burt Bacharach,’ ‘We’ll Play The Power Of Love By Frankie Goes To Hollywood A Thousand Times Tonight are personal favourites) it’ll be a real shame if this release doesn’t receive the appreciation that it deserves. We’ll likely never witness their live show first hand, so don’t miss this release too.

Rating Out of 10: