The Scope: Modular’s well-dressed posse shows promise on their full-length debut but ultimately it lacks the X factor of the band they want to be - Phoenix.

Though they have experienced major chart success Modular’s albums have either been hit or miss in 2008. Cut/Copy and Ladyhawke recorded absolute winners and while Van She’s long-awaited debut isn’t the cold and isolated album that The Presets came up with on Apocalypso, nor is it a modern classic like Cut/Copy’s In Ghost Colours. When V fires it delivers decent indie dance pop but when it fails it sounds like a band that formed in the backstage of a fashion show. If anything, V proves how good Phoenix are at pulling off their uber-cool easy listening sound. The album doesn’t get off to a bad start as Memory Man is a decent swirl of psychedelic pop and Cat & The Eye is by far the catchiest track Van She have penned. The third track Changes isn’t bad but it’s low fat Phoenix (to highlight how much these guys wanna be Phoenix; there is even a song on here called Virgin Suicide for chrissakes). The remake of their sappy radio hit Kelly shows Van She are still a few songs short to prove they are a worthwhile addition to the Modular family.

The Wrap: Not bad, but I don’t think Sofia Coppola will be ditching Phoenix’s lead singer for Nicky Van She anytime soon.

David Knight