Back in November last year we covered cheeky five-piece the Luminites, and their track All Dressed Up, which we rather liked. And now they're back with this cracking cover version of Cheryl Cole's new single Call My Name. We really like the beat-box workover they've given the song and it brings a refreshing new vibe to the track while still keeping all the addictive allure of Cheryl's original intact. Definitely our favourite cover version of a Cheryl song since Delphic's take on 3 Words, that's for sure.
Quirk-pop upstarts Luminites are all about positive vibes and good feeling - their single All Dressed Up is irresistibly upbeat, a smile-driven bit of juicy pop delicacy.
But turning to more serious matters, the band have teamed up with Centerpoint to record a cover of 70s hit Streets of London - all in aid of raising £300,000 to help out homeless young people; fixing them up with education, accommodation and employment.
It's a heartfelt, earnest take on the song - full of sentimental feeling and soft harmonies against a gentle backing of acoustic guitar. Then the beat and a load of synths kick in and it turns into a full-on epic-athon. Amazing.
The band's good deeds have already caught the attention of the Metro and Evening Standard, and if you fancy doing your bit to help too, you can download the track on iTunes now.
Basic likeability is a much-underated quality in pop. You can have the best tunes in the country, but if people don't buy into your image and personality as performers, it won't get you far. Things look promising for hip new five-piece Luminites then as their debut single All Dressed Up comes with more than ample supplies of likeability.
You can't quite put your finger on it, but the jovial carefree vibes that spill from the track's shimmery synth riffs and frantically strummed acoustic guitar are the equivalent of someone turning up a party with a couple of four-packs cradled under both arms - it's a promise of guaranteed good times ahead. It's that slightly tipsy sensation of unbriddled joy, the excitement of living in the moment.
The five members each bring something to the table from urban-flavoured vocal harmonies to cheeky raps and beatbox. It's eclectic, in the best way possible, and as I always say - the more female/male combo groups around, the better - the dynamic just works so well.
Un-content to be pigeonholed, there's not much else out there that sounds quite like these guys. Like a sonic jack-of-all trades, they pack a little bit of everything in and in this instance, the kitchen-sink formula has resulted in a real pop gem.
Good, honest, fun pop - if there's any way to sum up Luminites, it's like that. The band are currently out on the pop promo activity de jeur right now - the trusty schools tour - and in the process have racked up over 7000 Facebook fans.
