Does the world need another Oasis? Isn't it wholly inevitable, despite the fact that the majority of that band are currently straddling the wrong side of 40, they'll be churning out albums for decades to come with a determination matched only by the Rolling Stones? Still, it's no harm to have a contingency plan in place, and when an up-and-coming band are Gallagher-approved, it's all the better.
Twisted Wheel make no bones about their influences, and they wear them brazenly, too: Oasis, The Libertines and The Clash (without the intelligence or politics) all feature prominently in their sonic make-up. Yet reeling off a list of bands that the Mancunian trio sound like is completely unfair; high-flying producer Dave Sardy does an admirable job of tightening the trio's sound whilst simultaneously trying to enhance any streaks of originality (singer Jonny Brown's impetuous vocals, for one). On the more successful occasions (the shimmering, '60s mod vibe of 'She's A Weapon', or the ramshackle, Sex Pistols-being-force-fed-pure-pop of 'Oh What Have You Done'), it's admittedly quite enjoyable.
Elsewhere, however, Twisted Wheel sink into the dreaded swamp of mundane ladrock. 'One Night on the Street' pinches an Arctic Monkeys bassline but none of their charm, while the frenetic 'You Stole the Sun' is no better than anything the dreadful Pigeon Detectives would come up with.
Nevertheless, 'Twisted Wheel' consists of one surefire festival hit after another, and will doubtless provide the slurred campsite soundtrack of the summer. Sure, Twisted Wheel aren't nearly as throwaway as some of their contemporaries - but then again, that's not much of a compliment.
