hard-fi’s debut crackles with energy all the way through -- no skips, just bangers. it’s indie britpop smashed up with ska, dub and... dancefloor grit, turning dead-end jobs and weekend buzz into something electric. richard archer’s lyrics strike blunt then cut deep: the anguish of being broke on 'cash machine', the elation of a new crush on 'hard to beat', the bitterness of the subsequent break-up on 'better do better', joy at the prospect of two days and nights of freedom on 'living for the weekend'. everywhere the nous and flexibility that makes 'hard to beat' just as perfect for the club as it is at a festival. and the title track has only got better with age -- a sublime paean to a world in which every move we make is caught on camera, it all hinges on archer's sneering refrain of 'can't you see the camera loves me', his voice dripping with sarcasm. it's a song that captures the spirit of the album perfectly. but also, really, the spirit of the age. one of the albums of my life. show more
