The Noisettes look like they got dressed by being dragged backwards through the multicultural bazaar that is Camden Market and a couple of charity shops. I wouldn’t be surprised if they drew musical influences from the same – or similarly eclectic – places, such is the way that this – their debut album – veers from one style to another: blues to punk to soul to metal, like nothing you’ve ever heard. If you want an approximation, the frequent Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons don’t really do them justice: instead try imagining The Go! Team covering The Sex Pistols, but fronted by Skin from Skunk Anansie. And then remember that that is just one mood on this almost schizophrenic album.

What’s The Time Mr Wolf? starts with the previously-released singles ‘Scratch Your Name’, ‘Don’t Give Up’ and ‘Sister Rosetta (Capture The Spirit)’ – each a veritable smorgasbord ranging from Shingai Shoniwa singing soulfully to a shout-along chorus with frantic 70s guitar riffs – and barely lets up until the untitled ‘hidden’ track at the end. While some critics have praised the band’s diversity for exhibiting a maturity beyond their years, the truth is that for every derivative ‘new’ band who are effectively a tribute act, there’s another who choose to throw every influence they can think of into a blender, like a child in a cake decorating shop, and that’s the vibe I get here – Noisettes are simply musical magpies with an eye for things good, but no understanding of the concept ‘less is more’.

Just seeing the band is enough to tell you that they’re individuals who aren’t really bothered what convention or others think of them, and the same attitude seems to permeate their music – they do what they want, and if it turns out you don’t like the musical equivalent of pizza and ice cream then tough. Kudos to them indeed for their madcap variety; personally I found the mix of styles over-powering and lacking cohesion. But, then again, maybe I’m just boring and unimaginative.

(3/5)