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TRACK: UFO

WHO: Poppy & The Jezebels – four Brum musical youths who are very definitely too cool for school.

THE HYPE: "Not only unusual but also potentially amazing." - The Times

WHAT: Underaged, over-achiever power pop.

WE SAY: There’s really something bittersweet about seeing these kids, none of them over the age of 17, living the dream and punting out records at such a tender age. Obviously it’s a good thing to see the flowering buds of our cultural future, but then it just brings into sharp your own life – at their age I was still just discovering indie (granted, it took a bit more discovering back then); these kids already have their own band, hell they already have one album in their locker (does said locker have High School Musical stickers on it? Probably not). Forget about doing it for the kids – the kids are now doing it for themselves without any help, thank you very much.

The other thing is that is impressive is that Poppy & The Jezebels aren’t notable for their potential, but for the fact that they are already fully formed talent. A Scooby Doo sandwich of elements, UFO weaving ska licks, Early Learning Centre keyboard riffs, indie kid attitude and high-gloss production into sleek, 21st century girl-band pop.

Cocksure and toatally on the right track, these girls clearly have no need to see the school careers advisor.

IF YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW ONE THING: You can catch them at the forthcoming Underage Festival on August 8 in London’s Victoria Park – though it may look a bit weird if you’re not actually underage yourself.

WHERE CAN I GET MY HANDS ON IT: UFO is released on their own label Gumball Machine on August 4.

FIND MORE: www.myspace.com/poppyandthejezebels

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