Betchadupa - betchadupa

(Flying Nun EP)

****

Review: Russell Baillie

On their debut EP betchadupa provide some very good reasons to get past the natural urge to engineer some genetic comparisons from the fact that this Auckland quartet features the teenage offspring of Kiwi rock notables in singer-guitarist Liam Finn and drummer Matt (son of Citizen Band and Angels sticksman Brent Eccles).

The best reason is that they're good. Not just worryingly good for their age - those sons-of and bassist Joe Bramley and guitarist Chris Garland are all just 16 - but a fresh-faced, pop-rock, occasionally noisy, effortlessly melodic, alarmingly-assured-in-Dad's-studio sort of good.

Yes, ok, lead track Empty Head could be the result of a Crowded House/silverchair mind-meld. But add to that the blissed-out Elliot Smith-like balladry of the gorgeous Spill The Light, the hyperactive punkpop Bits, the jagged rock slouch of Mr White, the darkly jaunty Derelict and the angular surf-rock instrumental Heavy Dog to finish, and you have quite an announcement - as well as an EP that, as has long been the Flying Nun tradition, will be a hard act to follow.

End with a cheap-shot generational comparison? Well, let's just say bechadupa are more Sean than Julian.