“Girls in the Back”
from the album Kick
2006
iTunes
To say White Rose Movement is another ’80-inspired British band would vastly understate their appeal, and would overlook the fact that, unlike most of their peers, they’re nearly impossible to become weary of. Recalling the more dance-fueled bands of the ’80s like Duran Duran and Depeche Mode, WRM dishes up addictive, synth-based melodies that crazy-glue fingers to a stereo’s repeat button.
WRM — named for the German resistance against the Nazis during World War II — formed in late 2002 of singer Finn Vine, guitarist Jasper Milton, drummer Edward Harper, bassist Owen Dyke, and keyboardist Taxxi. All but Taxxi met while growing up on a hippie commune in Norfolk, and, upon moving to London, the foursome recruited Taxxi when Dyke spent an evening at the club Trash asking attractive girls whether they could play keyboards. After signing to U.K. label Independiente in 2004, WRM went into the studio with Paul Epworth to record their debut album, Kick, which has already spawned several successful singles overseas. “Girls in the Back” offers dancey Gang of Four-esque rhythms as Vine shows off his stylish hoot, while “Alsatian” revels in atmospheric synth layers.