The Response: Novel Idea (digital outlets)

Christchurch's Response had equal billing on the Art School Dropout album by former Goodshirt singer/writer Rodney Fisher two years ago, an album we described as “a sophisticated collection of quiet, crafted, atmospheric guitar-based pop”.

That album was pop in its various manifestations (folk-pop, pop-rock, dream pop) so that meant this one had a good entre for us.

And from the title track opener which arrives as a thump of slightly jerky Lennonesque psyche-pop (with maybe a smidgen of Liam Gallagher in the vocals), this is an attention getter.

The duo of Andrew and Victoria Knopp shamelessly embrace the best of pop simplicity (catchy hooks, verse-chorus) on songs which arrive on the back of a stuttering guitar riff (All of My Flaws), Beatles' 1967 (Set Something on Fire), gritty power pop (Circles Within Circles) and its electro-pop end (Over the Moon, Flesh on Bone).

And the Beatles again (a bit) with Far From Figured Out which opens with the kind of repetitious and memorable part which opened I Feel Fine . . . but then takes off in its own pop direction.

The Response know their history but don't repeat it, simply use it for their own ends. 

In hip circles, pop which reflects the history of the style is embraced (Lemon Twigs) and you'd like think anyone who heard Hollow Branches, 40,000 Day and Night or New Pair of Pants - Coming Collapse on this album would be immediately as enthusiastic.

Pop of various kinds is in safe hands with the Response.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here