As the sound of Los Campesinos! flies into your eardrums you can’t help but laugh and let the good times roll. This seven-piece group (roughly translating to "the Peasants") formed in 2006 in Cardiff, England. The lineup includes Aleksandra (keyboard, horn), Ellen (bass), Gareth (glockenspiel), Harriet (violin, keyboard), Neil (guitar), Ollie (drums), and Tom (guitar), with all members sharing vocals and the last name of Campesinos! Sticking Fingers into Sockets is the bands first album and as the name suggests its content is loaded with offbeat humor. This indie rock album’s sound is accented humorously with witt and precision. Each guitar and rhythm section oozes cheerful sounds and chiming bells accent each of these sounds. They are then accompanied by rousing vocals and add a pinch of weirdness and you have the Los Campesinos! sound. The opening track “We Throw Parties, and You Throw Knives” opens with a whimsical and hilarious edge that foreshadows the rest of the album. Next up “It Started with a Mix,” “And Don’t Tell To Do The Mathis” keep the energetic vibe flowing until “Frontwards” and “You! Me! Dancing!” begin to rotate. These two exuberant and lifting tracks use every element present in Los Campesino’s eccentric sound library. “You! Me! Dancing!” is easily the highlight of the album and its filled with upbeat and good natured feelings and sounds Sticking Fingers into Sockets is for those looking for a good chuckle and are feeling little weird. If these moods or any similar moods happen to strike you give the Los Campesinos! a listen.
