I Was A Cub Scout ‘Pink Squares’

There was an article in the Daily Mail a few weeks back about a set of new scout badges. A plan by Britain’s Chief Scout – ex-Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, no really – to bring Baden-Powell’s increasingly unfashionable youth movement saluting and woggling into the 21st century.

In the place of the Knot Tying and Bivouac Building, come Mountain Biking, Technology, Public Relations and Imagination. (“I’m surprised they don’t have a badge for hairdressing,” splutters one outraged Mail reader).

I Was A Cub Scout are Todd and William, a pair of barely-shaving teenagers from the remote wilds of the A1 corridor somewhere between Lincs and Notts. The sort of place you’d imagine the scout movement still holds sway.

And if Peter Duncan’s new badges had included Tying Emo and Electro in Knots or Constructing a passable early New Order sound, then the Long Bennington Scout Hut’s loss may well have never been joyous indie pop’s gain.

Or maybe I’m taking the name too literally?

IWACS have been drip-feeding excellent tracks since late 2006, and release their debut long-player (‘I Want You To Know That There Is Always Hope’) in two weeks. While it’s emotional and sensitive, the album is driven by distinctive beats and rhythms in the way Madchester’s classics were. (and is overseen by production legend Hugh Padman – the man who created the drum sound for Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’).

New single ‘Pink Squares’ is a joy; shuffling between Postal Service synth-miserabilism and Klaxon guitar and beat exuberance, but it’s previous single ‘Our Smallest Adventures’ that has worked its way towards the top of the iPod’s 25 Most Played. Gorgeous synths, bleeps and plaintive vocals. Enjoy the YouTube video here… now…

Great stuff. Fresh, new and very exciting. Consider the Imagination badge earned, chaps.

More hear…
- What else? Oh yes, there’s the single, ‘Pink Squares’, out now on XL, and the album, ‘I Want You to Know That There Is Always Hope’ which is out on Monday, February 18, on XL, who as everyone likes to say these days is the home of Radiohead.
- And here’s their MySpace
- Oh and, nah, forgotten what I was going to say.