Playful Punctuation, and a Glockenspiel to Boot

In their debut album, Hold On Now Youngster..., Los Campesinos! exhibit their incredible talent, not only in presentation, but also in musicality. The band, hailing from Cardiff, Wales, consists of seven members—three women, four men—including “Gareth Campesinos!” on lead glockenspiel. Aside from their affinity for playful punctuation, Los Campesinos! are a pleasant permutation of Jack’s Mannequin and The Postal Service. Some songs, such as “You! Me! Dancing!” are surprisingly catchy and accessible for such a unique band. The first track on the album, which calls for the death of the band members, demonstrates the unanticipated depth in their lyrics, which describe an unusual desire not to be human—a complex psychological issue for a pop band to tackle. The upbeat dynamic that the seven members manage on a debut album is truly incredible. While each song is unique and enjoyable, the album has a coherence that many new artists—and even some veterans—lack. Hold On Now Youngster... hit stores on February 18, and as the lead single asserts, it’s for you. It’s for me. It’s for dancing.