Out & About in Brighton

Teenagers In Tokyo

They're the latest band to be signed by Back Yard: a big deal, because BY keep only 5 bands, one of which is Gossip. So much is expected of Teenagers in Tokyo (or, TIT). Tonight, TIT play the Lexington. Itchy attends, pen in claw.

TIT all sat next to each other in High School. This was unplanned: they were grouped by chance of their alphabetically consecutive surnames (Lim, Mandic, Marigliano, McGinn). This does not include their rangy, haggard drummer: the only element here with a Y chromosome. He looks like a backpacker who's been left in Amsterdam to stew.

About him prance the female members. They all have heavy fringes and good legs. Bassist Marigliano is a little elf (and yes, she's got that peroxide pixie cut). Mandic, on keyboard, threatens to TIMBER forward under the sheer mass of her heaped bouffant, which thrusts forth with every strum.

Singer Lim explodes into searing, crystal vocals that punch the breath out of our lungs. (Be warned: Lim sometimes bares the whites of her eyes by way of expressing emotion. It's alarming the first time.) Add a screaming guitar solo by McGinn, and the Lexington lifts off.

A ritzy eighties interlude on the keyboard is inserted into their murderously catchy (albeit mundanely-named) single 'End it Tonight'. This is the piece that's getting them all the attention. Listen to it on MySpace. Now note how you listen to it again, helplessly, through no volition of your own. See? It's irresistible.

”They're somewhat languid, musically,“ our ever-erudite friend leans in to comment. Or is the crowd the problem? Everyone around us is bopping tastefully. Boringly. There's no passion here in the Lexington, just interesting hair.

Enter a faithful cover of Hall & Oates' 'Maneater' (ooh here she comes). This is pure pollyfilla in TIT's set. It should be scalpelled out: the band can clearly write more intriguing stuff themselves. But this crowd loves the idea of the 80s. So it's the perfect dreary accompaniment to their posing.

TIT launch into their final piece, which might be called 'Forever' (this was its chief lyric). Is this a single? It's funky, and damn entertaining. The band comes to life, the drummer whirling his sticks into a blur. Lim is chanting. Another is wawah-ing, like a squaw. This builds to a tribal climax. Someone has been taking tips from M.I.A's 'Bird Flu'. We likey.

Catch TIT's UK tour in August. They return to London to play Koko on the 14th. After that you can follow them to Belgium, if that's your thing.

www.teenagersintokyo.com

Naomi O'Leary

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