Tickly guitars, a streaky-sounding singer doting over a mythical lady, a chanted and muddy chorus… can it get more East London? Al Cool & The Stranger Wines remind of a good few other bands, but at the same they possess a charming, spunky swagger all of their own. Painting pretty worlds over catchy riffs, Mr Cool’s voice is appealing – somehow naive and wizened at the same time – but it’s the dainty string quirks in Céline’s quiet moments that truly lift this song into quality territory.
What else of this sixpiece, they of the liquor-themed name and forthcoming slot supporting Django Django, their fellow Hackneyites? Well, not a lot. Céline is the only song on the MySpace page, which otherwise specifies their London roots and names. I guess we’ll all just have to go along to The Victoria early to find out some more.
Live date:
Fri 30 October – The Victoria, Mile End
Al Cool & The Stranger Wines on MySpace
MP3: Al Cool & The Stranger Wines – Céline (zSHARE)