Vampire Weekend

‘Vampire Weekend’

(XL Recordings)

2008 is barely out of nappies, and yet there’s already less shit coming out of its arse than 2007’s colostomy bagged-up granddad. Vampire Weekend are the patter of tiny feet stomping around with new-born authority, delivering a debut that is already shortlisted in The Fly’s albums of the year. Eclectic? Betcha. Original? None more so. Er, vampirish? Yeah, go on then. Basically, VP have got it all. Musically, they extract Paul Simon, circa ‘
Graceland’, from his arse, teach The Strokes a SECOND song and, well, teach the kitchen sink how to dance the fandango. What we’re trying’a say here is that this lot have it all. ‘Walcott’ is a languid piece of piano-bash genius; while epic beauty ‘M79’ seems to utilise every instrument ever invented.

Vampire Weekend are the Bloody Mary to 2007’s hangover. Fang-bleedin-tastic.

Stephen Brolan