The Art began life under a different name in Sydney, Australia when two friends - singer Azaria and bassist KJ - formed a band called The Follow. Following on from underground success and touring with Sonic Youth, they moved to the States to try their luck.

Changing their name, band members and sound they morphed into The Art. After regularly selling out LA venues such as The Troubadour and The Viper Room and recording their album 'Here Comes The War' they headed back home to support the likes of Marilyn Manson, 30 Seconds To Mars and their heroes The Pixies. Now based back in Sydney, 2012 sees The Art back touring in the States and with new music in the form of this EP.

Opener 'Dirty Girl', with its dirty riff, dirty lyrics and catchy hook, is a definite winner. You can tell these guys (and girl) wear their guitars slung low; its sexually charged rock 'n' roll delivered straight from the crotch. The joint vocals compliment each other well, and almost snake their way through the song. You can just smell the sweet stench of leather and liquor that were probably present at the recording, it's good stuff.

The sleazy vibe continues with 'Dreamz and Nightmares' as it creeps in slowly on a dark and brooding bass groove, the guitars oozing sleazy riffs over the top, in unison with the vocal melody. It builds nicely, Azaria's distinctive scream threatening to turn your dreams to nightmares. It's like Faster Pussycat trying to be Marilyn Manson, oh hold on, that's what Faster Pussycat do these days anyway...but these guys do it better.

'Homesick' sees Azaria telling us how he is "homesick, sick of being home" but I don't really think he will be spending much time there in the near future.

They have a certain theatrical vibe to them, the songs would not seem out of place on the Hedwig or even Rocky Horror soundtrack albums, they have that slightly camp, glam rock feel to them. But it's an upbeat yet darker brand of glam rock updated for the modern age, it mixes the traditional New York Dolls/Faster Pussycat styling with some gothic vibes.

If you dug the glitter punk sounds of Flash Bastard on my recommendation last year then you could do no wrong checking out The Art who carry a similar groove coursing through their veins.

www.followtheart.com