Rarely did retro sound so fresh, urgent and energetic as on Gotham, the second album from 2002 by New York's Radio 4. Under the motto 'dance to the underground', this group recycled the punkfunk sound of early eighties bands like Gang Of Four. Shriekback and Bush Tetras. Together with fellow townspeople The Rapture, they forced a true punkfunk revival - both within the dance and rock scene. With
… their fourth album Enemies Like This, the surprise is gone and the quintet continues with what they do best. The sound now sounds tighter and more layered (thanks to the British dance producer Jagz Kooner) but no less urgent. More dub and reggae influences were integrated, which works out well, partly due to the role of percussionist PJ O'Connor. Enemies Like This has mainly become an extremely danceable album, in which the committed and staccato-spewed vocals continue to provide a stinging sting. A combination that they did not invent themselves, but where Radio 4 is now inimitable. (MR)more
