Ringo Deathstarr: Sparkler – review

Anyone growing old waiting for My Bloody Valentine's Loveless remasters to come out will find this compilation a diverting stopgap. Texans Ringo Deathstarr (ouch) released their debut album of homages to the Valentines and the Jesus and Mary Chain last February, joining a coterie of indie revivalists such as the Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Yuck. A vinyl EP available in three colours, Sparkler collects Ringo Deathstarr's earlier works, even more beholden to the wasted buzzsaw melodics of the late 80s. "Starssha" is a sped-up version of J&MC's "Just Like Honey"; "In Love" apes J&MC's "Sidewalking". But it's the boy-girl vocals of Elliott Frazer (guitar) and Alex Gehring (bass) that recalls the Valentines most of all. We all know Shields will never sue.