Guardian's New Band Of The Week: GIRL FRIEND

"Hometown: Manchester.

The lineup: Amory (vocals), Jake (guitars, keyboards), Sam (drums, percussion pad).

The background: We remember reading of Steely Dans 1972 album Cant Buy a Thrill, something to the effect that it made a cool mockery of the notion of a debut, so fully formed and audaciously sophisticated was it. Since then, there have been several memorable examples of the band whose first offering is so flawless ABCs The Lexicon of Love springs to mind, as does Phoenix United it obviates the need for a follow-up. Say hello immaculately, wave goodbye quickly. The perfect career, before repetition and atrophy set in. Monte Carlo, the first single from Manchester trio Girl Friend, is not quite in that superleague and besides, its only a single but still, credit where it is due: it is 3mins 41secs of sleek accomplished disco-pop, with a shiny propulsion that will stop you in your tracks even as it invites you to become a slave to its melancholy rhythm. We are moved to controversially suggest that, in the pantheon of Manchester debut singles, it is in the ballpark of The Stone Roses So Young and Happy Mondays Delightful and within kissing distance of Hurts Better Than Love, even if the likes of Shot By Both Sides, Ceremony and Hand in Glove remain comfortably over the horizon." For full text: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/13/girl-friend-no-42

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