Cornflakes Heroes - Dear Mr Painkillers (Greed) Dear Mr Painkillers, the second long-player from the awkwardly named French indie-folk-rock-popsters can sound a trifle maudlin when compared to it’s 2006 predecessor. Instead of unlimited jangle and jolly ditties, we get the serious shit; suicidal tendencies are explored on “Trigger Dear” and a sense of Gothic Americana comes to the fore on a couple of occasions. It’s not easy listening but it’s good stuff all the same; full of atmosphere and quiet desperation. When they do revert to pure pop songs, “Sex On Channel #4” and “Let Me Be Your Tamagotchi” both spring to mind, the relief is instant, though inevitably short-lived. Indie pop was born in the ‘80s, combining the Velvets’ dark looping vibes and The Byrds’ Rickenbacker sparkle. On Dear Mr Painkillers, Cornflakes Heroes favour the former parent, but haven’t completely turned their back on the latter, just yet. www.greed-recordings.com Rob F. Next