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The mathematically astute I Can Count label has a finely tuned ear for home made pop and design. Fans include the leftfield looking DJs of choice Radio 1’s favourites Rob da Bank and Huw Stephens who like the quirky stuff. Think of an early Mute/Rough Trade version of Kitsuné that’s looking for the next Hot Chip, David Bowie or combination of the two.

At one point I thought The Lost Levels were going to launch into ‘Ground Control to Major Tom’ but the glichy folktronica comes later on with Coney Island Sound. You get the feeling Peel would love to be introducing these bands in his sarcastic way, “don’t know anything about Coney Island Sound, are they from Norwich?” (not that I know where they are from either or have any gripe with the fine city of Norwich).

You’d want to love 303DIDTHISTOME or Spaceships Are Cool just because of their great names but there are a few other diverse standout tracks. Like ‘Bring My Love’s Unwanted Arrow’ with a very mellow Tunng feel to it compared to the high tempo Miss Odd Kidd with a type of Lady Sov rap meets electro grime. And then, like a perverse mix tape, Humanboy’s track is like a broken beat version of Tunng!

‘Eighties’ is an 80s-inspired instrumental and just as blatant is the electro pop of ‘Saturday Night’ by Beauty School Dropout. It’s a track that’s better than the real time-period version and is just waiting to be picked up as “the next big thing”.

The difference with the modern eighties bedroom bands and their original counterparts? The modern versions seem to have girlfriends that can sing. Mr. Beasley’s vocalist sounds to me like a young Clare Grogan (but I’m probably far from the mark) and the disco-synth of ‘Turn Out The Lights’ sounds better for the female vocals.

With a great cover and some rather good-looking limited edition t-shirts (see link below), I Can Count seem like a label worthy of support. Especially as at the cost of the CD is only a few pennies more than the price of a pint at the Glastonbury Festival this weekend. A mere £4.00 (the CD, not a pint) ordered via the web site, this 12 track CD is clearly value for money and great fun.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Saturday Night’, ‘Bring My Love’s Unwanted Arrow’, ‘Don’t Be Afraid to Sweat’, ‘Life In Colour’

Reviewed: V/A — I Can Count — Volume 2 Cat. No. ICCM003 Release date: June 2007
Tracklisting
1. Take It All — The Lost Levels (4:44)
2. Dyno — Mr Beasley (5:11)
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Sweat — Miss Odd Kidd (3:28)
4. Apostrophe Apostrophe — 303DIDTHISTOME (3:00)
5. Saturday Night — Beauty Skool Dropout (4:09)
6. Less And Less — Sportsday Megaphone (3:22)
7. Bring My Love’s Unwanted Arrow — Coney Island Sound (5:40)
8. Turn Out The Lights — Ear PWR (4:50)
9. Life In Colour — Humanboy (6:23)
10. Eighties — Revox (4:24)
11. Strawberry Kickers — Spaceships Are Cool (5:01)
12. Solar Plexus — Tell Me How (3:45)

Links:
www.icancount.co.uk >>>> From 20th to 27th June the I CAN COUNT team will be off to Glastonbury. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NO ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED IN THIS TIME, WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND WILL BE BACK WITH YOU AS SOON AS WE’VE WASHED THE MUD OFF. <<<<
www.myspace.com/icancountmusic new limited edition (only 50 of each) tee shirts online now!!
I Can Count 2 on bigstereo.net
Error13 Says: “I heard Beauty Skool Dropout were the next big thing…” (June 7th, 2007 at 8.14 pm)
www.beautyschooldropout.net
Huw Stephens :: Thursday 26 April :: DIY Label Of The Week: I Can Count
Flashing Pictures — David E Sugar (Project New City’s What’s He Building In There Mix)
Grand Prix ‘86 — Mirrorball
www.maisonkitsune.fr
Lottergirls — The Day The World Turned Dayglo