Not so much a work of maturation (maybe the product of post-post-pubescence), Cardiff’s Los Campesinos!’ full-length debut develops from the excitement on Sticking Fingers into Sockets by lifting that EP’s two best songs (“Don’t Tell Me to do the Math(s)” and “You! Me! Dancing!”) and working their surefire formula to produce 10 more enthusiastic anthems. While the glossy sheen of BSS associate David Newfeld’s production threatens to override the energy, Hold On’s sketchy singalongs and erratic vocals are endearingly unpolished. True to their socialist namesake, all the instruments receive equal billing — spindly guitar lines play out over keyboard counter-melodies, and there are glockenspiels galore — which keeps the compositions from sounding unnecessarily orchestrated. Now, if we can keep these kids away from the hype and exploitation usually reserved for child actors, they’ll do just fine. 

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