Staines’ hall of fame goes a little like this: Thorpe Park, Heathrow airport, Ali G and its newest inductees, Hard-Fi. I mean, seriously, when you think of Staines, at least one of those springs to mind. But while Thorpe Park has a ride called ‘X:\No Way Out’, indie’s brightest darlings Hard-Fi have escaped from this satellite town to clinch a number one debut album and sell-out tours, including blocking out London’s Brixton Academy for five consecutive nights in May this year. Not bad for a group fronted by big toothed and bushy browed Richard Archer (gosh, he does have the most beautiful blue eyes).

In Operation is a CD and DVD package of Hard-Fi’s career highlights – a live gig filmed at London Astoria last Christmas, their videos, behind-the-scenes footage, a mini documentary and a CD of alternative dub versions of Hard-Fi album tracks.

Included among the promo videos is their ‘controversial’ cut of ‘Cash Machine’, which cleverly follows the journey of a £10 note as it exchanges hands in dodgy transactions. And true to their roots, they even shot some of these videos close to home - on the outskirts of Heathrow airport and on the rooftop of an office block in the middle of Staines. Class!

A ticket to a Hard-Fi gig is most sought-after, considering their last two tours were sell-outs but if this recording is an example to go by, you ain’t missing much. Live, Hard-Fi take no risks – clean, straight-forward and in desperate need of a lethal injection of excitement. And this is from a band who brought us the spectacular debut Stars of CCTV. Whether they’re too cool to crease their zipped-up jackets or scuff their spotless trainers is debatable but Archer and the boys could do with a bit of roughing up.
(3½/5)

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