6/10

When Refused release 'The Shape Of Punk To Come' back in 1998, it was seen as a little brash and experimental. But in hindsight, we realised that those guys were on to something and in fact produced one of the greatest punk albums at least five years ahead of its time. And with LA-based duo Holychild clearly referencing that release with their debut album 'The Shape Of Brat Pop To Come', have they proven themselves as a future sound in the pop world?

Opening with the digitally enhanced 'Barbie Nation', it quickly becomes clear of what this band are looking to do. They have taken the energy and power of EDM dance music and fused it with the flow and pace of glossy pop. But while this sound is nothing new, take anything produced by Charli XCX or Sleigh Bells in the last few years, it does have this hint of tongue-in-cheek charm about it. Playing with the preconceptions of where America is in terms of its music output, and giving it a more forward-thinking and leftfield direction.

Effectively this is what a Taylor Swift album would sound like if Diplo was asked to handle the production. Which does make it a little hard to get your head around, but seeing as this is clearly an attempt to be the first in a new era of pop music, only time will tell for sure.