Simon Barber (lead vocals/guitar), Vicki Dempsey (vocals), Brian O Connor (bass), Chris Pye (drums), Pete Watson (keys)

Intrepid traffickers in scallyfornia art-pop, Santa Carla were brought together by their mutual appreciation of the Beatles, XTC, Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson. The band have been scratching the cognitive itch on the UK circuit for just over two years now.

On their latest EP 'Earworms', the band's arresting melodies and Zen-like vocal harmonies combine with dirty guitars, thrashing pop beats and some decidedly twisted lyrics.

Punky single 'Catcher in the Rye' and 'Shilling Dinner' cover the more universal themes of love lost and found, though even these well-worn topics are approached from a rather skewed perspective. 'Shilling Dinner' tells the story of the collapse of a relationship in reverse. It starts with a man having the gross realisation that his girl is a sadistic, seemingly invincible, gold-digging maniac, prone to bouts of cannibalism - it ends where they first meet.

'Catcher in the Rye' is something of a companion piece, a stalker anthem with Simon essaying the role of a man trying to escape the clutches of a predatory admirer.

The tragicomic 'Cooler Blues' paints an all-too-vivid picture of a Scouse nightspot at closing time while the EP's closing track, 'Liverpool', is far from a sentimental paean to their hometown; rather, it is the city as viewed through the eyes of David Lynch, a city where unseen dark forces are at work.

Santa Carla's world is one populated by stalkers, suicidal night club bouncers and philandering anchormen. It is this cinematic approach that has attracted airplay from both Huw Stephens at BBC Radio One and Jonathan Ross at BBC Radio Two since its release.

Friday 9 December 2005