Night Bus Or Milk Train review by Pete Feenstra on getreadytorock.com

The Scratch have much going for them ranging from their energetic melodic punky pop to a never say die attitude that has seen them build up a significant following on the club circuit.

'Night Bus or Milk Train' is also an unusual album being a 12 song set that grows in stature not just with repeated plays, but with songs that get stronger as the album progresses. The Scratch work their way through some wry lyrical narratives topped by edgy little hooks all camouflaged in an unlikely meeting of retro 60's feel and 70's Punk energy.

Although the nicely ragged feel to the album sometimes makes 'Night Bus' sound like a work in progress, there's an organic feel to the material that neatly gathers together a compelling jumble of musical ideas and youthful energy.

And somewhere in the middle there's a handful of gems most notably 'Stranger', a song touched by the kind of observational lyrics beloved by the likes of Ray Davies from the Kinks.

Vocalist/lyricist Andy Thompson sounds almost like post modern Marc Bolan on the equally dark 'Sister Pychosis', which is neatly juxtaposed by the poppy 'Chocolate Lemonade' - a very 60's sounding piece with a very live drum sound and a catchy guitar line.

On 'Outfaking the Fakers' they shift into Stranglers territory but with a more contemporary grungy sound, with a pounding bass and chanted chorus.

The similarly structured 'Smell the Gas Taps' impressively compresses the band's style into less than two minutes of essential punk pop. And as if to show just what they are potentially capable of The Scratch finish on the beautifully judged 'Undercover' where all their band's best elements come together on a superbly produced end piece.

It's almost as if they've found the missing element while recording the album 'Night Bus or Milkman' is a promising debut with a handful of songs that will doubtless become live staples.

In fact it's the kind of album that might well be fondly remembered in a few years time if the band goes on to fulfil their potential, that currently makes 'Night Bus or Milk Train' that bit better than most of their contemporaries.