Eltham heroes The Shakes, that’s Ed on vocals, keyboard, and harmonica, guitarist Gaz, John on bass, piano, and keyboard, and drummer Tim, have pioneered a new pastime. As explained in the video to accompany this latest single, http://www.tough-cookie.co.uk/video_streams/the_shakes/the_shakes_better_life_sup.wvx, “Rules of the game: Player 1 draws a card, Player 2 draws a card; highest card punches lowest card.” Their sound, meanwhile, isn’t nearly so ground-breaking but packs a suitably mean punch.

Ed met brothers Gaz and John at school. They hooked up with Tim at a later date, immediately bonding with him over the course of a jamming session in a south London boozer. Combining their love of fellow sarf Londoners Athlete, an appreciation of The Beatles, in particular ‘Eleanor Rigby’, and following hotly in the manic footsteps of The Young Knives, ‘I Want a Better Life’ finds The Shakes a-rattling and a-rolling.

After watching the vid, two things are certain. You’ll be playing punch poker until you’re black and blue all over whilst simultaneously listening to the single on repeat. No great Shakes? The very opposite, my friends.

(4/5)