Pete and the Pirates

Motorcycles, blood, sex, guns and insanity. Not things you’d immediately associate with Reading’s prime guitar pop exponents Pete & The Pirates, but then neither are phasing synths, sizzling psychedelia and the general atmosphere of darkness and thunder. Yet, these are the potent thrills P&TP are mixing into their infectious pop stew on their second album, thickening the plot and beefing out their indiepop’s marrow to a staggering bulk. As bold steps forward from their pristine pop 2008 debut ‘Little Death’ go, it’s as fearless as any Wikileak.