Kartica – Don’t You Think So (Self-released/ March 2012)

By Gary Lewis

I don’t need to explain who Kartica sound like. It’s obvious; but it’s a pleasure to jump in ears first for their debut single, ‘Don’t You Think So?’

The opening chords – nay, the whole song  – drips with glorious optimism. Not bad when June has officially been written off as a summer month, European finances are as stable as a jelly table and our contribution to the smorgasbord of sporting events is a depressingly unknown quantity.

For a debut, the band sound supremely confident. Big crashing cymbals, a rousing chorus and some stirring riffs lull you in before pulling your arms skywards in ecstatic salute. The drums; a touch of Matt Helders (of fellow Sheffield cohort Arctic Monkeys) shoves this out the house, blinking into glorious sunshine.

This starry-eyed slice of Sheffield indie rock has the Match of the Day Highlights soundtrack all over it. If John Hughes did a teen movie in Sheffield, this would be the theme. End of the Olympics showreel… You get the idea. The lyrics can’t help but melt the most cynical of hearts – “Is this the moment? Is the night? Has there been a better time?”

Time for a new band to the join the pantheon of Sheffield luminaries. There’s nothing under ‘K’ in the ‘List of musicians from Sheffield’ Wikipedia page. Time now to firmly nestle Kartica between Junction 24 and The Last Shadow Puppets. Come on!

Check out Kartica’s Website here

Kartica’s official Facebook here

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