*Atari Doll *have produced a finely polished and mildly assorted 4-track demo CD. It is probably unheard of to stumble upon a band demo that is _truly _different – a collection that really is something new. Instead you would expect to hear a mixture of many *different *music tastes and maybe, if you are lucky, you’ll get a combination that hasn’t been done before – something that is almost new.

Here we have a gentle fusion of many things that fail to really take you by surprise. Indeed, despite the promise, it lets you down. Open track, ‘Falling Down’ is sadly an upstart as we hear a pseudo-Crackout intro fade away into a vocal that lacks any real verve. An intentional lethargy seems to run through each track and it works well to some extent. But, that languid undertone belies the sullen urgency of ‘Queen For A Day’ despite it being the most upbeat of the four. ‘Numb’ sounds uncannily like a My Vitriol b-side and the vocals are maybe best suited to this – a more relaxed tune. Even as the chorus swells, there is strain from neither vocalist _nor _band. *Atari Doll *seem most at ease here – by _far _the most accomplished effort.

The vocals are weak throughout the record. While the music is well performed with some good riffs throughout, it is not backed up _sufficiently _to make this really work by the vocals. There is the potential to make the vocals supremely sexy against a background oft reminiscent of *My Bloody Valentine *and *Pink Floyd *but there is work to be done here before the impact they should make, can be made.