Zen Motel ‘ Transform and Escape’ (Corporate Whore)

When Zen Motel call their resident Essex ‘the Texas of England’ you may well sneer. Yet as Inme have shown us, there’s a lot more to the county than crude stereotypes permit. With their grandiose attitude and blatant self-belief Zen Motel will only prove that further. Besides, when they pair frontman Lee Wray’s dirty Americanised snarl with rebellious punk ‘n’ roll of the Ramones ilk, it’s easy to see why they could be more at home Stateside. That said, the trio still manage to retain a distinctly UK feel, calling on The Wildhearts for boisterous attitude, Therapy? For brooding intensity and 3 Colours Red for pop appeal (‘Are You Happy Now?). Bands like Living Things are already doing this remarkably well in the US, if they manage to keep their feet on British soil, Zen Motel could be an admirable response.7/10

Victoria Durham