Gigwise - 28th October 2006

The Night & Day Cafe - Manchester

Now gimmicks for any pop purist maybe akin to a cocaine addiction or doing a ‘Kid A': perfectly acceptable in moderation and even beneficial in the right circumstances, but often a recipe for critical reluctance. Like nautical clothing worn by middle aged women in the West Midlands there's not a direct link to Envy and Other Sins' Dickensian homage.

They  not only parade a variety of bonnets, flat caps, blazers and grandfather shirts but offer a candid view of old-fashioned unadulterated burlesque; coupled with a passion that would turn your most busty damsel rosy cheeked. Moll Flanders' backing band perhaps? Or the flag bearers for ‘New Bordello'? This may be indulgence gone mad, but their attention to detail is impressive, no less reflected in the songs. Boundlessly up-beat but still managing to feed off the spite and malice being conjured up in the lyrics. Evoking Muse at their most foolhardy, but EAOS play with a limited palette that does away with needless flourishes.

A truly joyful affair: melodic without being overbearing, ironic without being pretentious, these boys might recognise that while their gimmick is playful, their songs will give them a better fighting chance.