Album review: Strumpets – Hello Strumpets

Strumpets are yet another new revolving-door Belgian sort-of-supergroup signed to staunch indie label Jezus Factory, so if you’ve been following along for a while you should know what to expect: quirky alternative pop with more than a hint of the weird, plus guest appearances from members of dEUS and other Antwerp notables. Strumpets are fronted by an Argentinian fellow called Miguel Horacio Sosa (marginally better known as head honcho of free-jazz/noise outfit The Parallels), and should appeal to fans of Beach Boys-esque sunshine melodies and Belgian surrealism alike.

Hello Strumpets is a little too poppy for my tastes, to be honest, though its tweeness is knowing rather than naïve, its yearning sweet rather than sickly. We’re talking glassy guitars and cheesy keys, harmonised vocals (complete with occasional doo-wop callback hooks and ooh-ooh backups), cheery melodies and winsome lyrics about frustrated love. They have a warm and sunny sound, well suited to sitting on some European city plaza in mid-June with a tall glass of cold beer and, perhaps, a cheeky smoke as well… but it’s background music, at best, at least in my world. Strumpets are charmingly easy on the ear, but unlikely to grab you by the throat.