As you could probably surmise from the title, this is a compilation of the band's five 7" singles; twelve songs in total. What's odd about this singles comp, though, is that it's not chronologically ordered. But whether they had a premeditated sequence or were just forcibly hitting the random button for us is a moot point, as the disc works really well no matter how the songs are ordered. This is my introduction to Kicker, though I've heard their name thrown around many times (for example, Laura Bridge from Harper Lee is in this band), and I must say that I'm very glad to have made their acquaintance. Reminding me simultaneously of Fosca, Spearmint, Comet Gain and Stereolab, this band plays really catchy, fun songs with lots of energy and farfisa (but then again, it's hard to not sound energetic with a farfisa). Seeing as most of the singles are out of print already, this disc is both a great introduction to the band, as well as a complete collection of their work to date! MTQ=12/12 Review of fivefortyfives, Indiepages, November 2002

 

In case you don't take notice of titles, this album collects together the band's first five singles (45's) on For Us Records, Track & Field and Bad Jazz. Whilst being extremely factual, the first sentence of this review has not told you anything about how bloody ACE the album is though. It's bloody ACE. There you go. What? You want more? Okay, it's twelve tracks of moog heavy delicate, yet dancey, soulful indie pop. It alternates between jangly indie guitars with deep voiced, slightly off key male vocals to beautiful female fronted Northern soul with a hint of under produced 60's pop. Occasionally I am thinking of Stereolab or Belle and Sebastian, two bands by the way that I never had any time for, but for whatever reason this gets me excited. With that image I'll leave you to save your pennies to buy it in the hope it does the same for you. If not I'd worry. The "Exclusive" fanzine Issue 8

 

"Kicker is what happens when Stereolab meets Belle & Sebastian. But where those two bands work really hard to put the right instrument in the right place, Kicker is looser. The equipment on the album cover could as well be used by them in real life. As you can make out from the title, this album is a compilation of five singles, made from 1999 until 2002. These aren't presented in a chronological order but are divided throughout the album. One thing that leads to a feeling of listening to more than one band on this recording is that, over time, Kicker started sounding more mature and less lo-fi. On the other hand, there is an unremarkable Kicker sound: Everywhere you hear that sneering '60s organ in the up-tempo songs, and the switch between the boy–girl singing, as with the Apples In Stereo. More namedropping? Also think about Yo La Tengo's I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, but without the rough parts. Alright, those are enough comparisons for this band from London who do have a thing of their own but also constantly make you wonder, "Where have I heard this before?" Kicker is the right combination of different influences and makes us long for more: a sixth fortyfive or even a complete album." Review of fivefortyfives, kindamuzik.net, November 2002

 

"It's amazing that the band that has had the most releases on the label remains the least known. Listening to this compilation of their five singles so far it amazes me yet more. Why aren't this band huge?

12 stabs of northern soul influenced moog-a-licious pop gems peppered with toe tapping, hip-swinging beats of which the wonderful "Boy Have You Got It?" the country tinged "No More Tears", with its heart achingly honest spoken word outro, "besides you owe me" it concludes and the stomping "The Falling Leaves" standout.

Sometimes, like on "Chancifer", they sound like a northern soul version of the highly underrated Tiger but for the most part they sound like 1966 down at the northern soul dance party." Review of fivefortyfives, I'd rather be fat than confused fanzine, October 2002

 

"Long awaited - by us - "5x45s" does what it says on the tin, allowing us to listen to kicker's resumé to date without the usual attendant gaps of cuing one of the singles up, playing it at the wrong speed, dropping the needle, etc. of course, we know that's the attraction of vinyl, too, but in these digitally obsessed times...

it's all rich and warm, if sparsely produced, conjuring images of analogue recording and dansette playback, motown melodies and (inescapably)the comet gain and velocette axis which we understand is, or at least was, represented in their six-strong line-up. kicker take guitar, bass, drums and sixties organ and supplement them with strings or brass where necessary to produce a sound which is undeniably an ode to the past, but that is usually lively enough to justify their role in the present. the only exception to the over-riding northern soul feel is probably "turning left", which is more obviously a recording made under the influence of the tim gane / miss mend school of archness, but that still works perfectly well.

the release order of the singles is also mixed up, so that the cd starts with a bang with one of their very strongest tunes, "boy, have you got it ?" and then hops around between both the preceding and subsequent platters. to be honest, from their first single "get rid of him", to the inspirational 2002 effort "no more tears" with its sparkling exhortation to just live life - one of the very best singles of this year - the quality control is pretty smooth, so newcomers will be treated to a coherent whole (fans of the saturday people's album, for example, might recognise the retro-pop sensibilities). as such, it will certainly tide us over until single six arrives..." In love with these times, inspite of these times review of fivefortyfives, October 2002

 

 

"Bitterscene nights at the Bassment have a brilliant reputation thanks to lively gigs by bands like Kicker. If you were foolish enough to miss them there is some consolation. Luckily,all indie-pendently minded hipsters can savour the sound of Kicker on Fivefortyfives - a fine compilation of their first five vinyl singles.

They've repaid the Bitterscene support by thanking them in the sleevenotes and by making one of the best indie releases of the year. Kicker make all-nighter raids on the the vaults of Northern Soul then melt the tunes with their burning indie spirit. The wonderful Boy Have You Got It? and Gone And Forgotten recreate the sublime Sixties sound of Decca records. So wonderfully retro yet so refreshingly now. Be careful though, Jill Drew's sexy soulful voice will inspire you to raid record fairs for rare Billie Davis and Dana Gillespie vinyl - she's that good! The groovy vibe continues through the liberating and heartmending emotion of Get Rid Of Him. Kicker outshine Stereolab on the infectious On Your Floor and No More Tears and Turning Left is what 'Lab fans really wanted after the complete space-pop of Ping Pong.

There is another side to Kicker. When Phil Sutton sings they transform into an equally impressive Felt/Yo La Tengo hybrid band. The Long Way Down, Chancifer and Baby Don't Worry are lush lo-fi treasures. Fivefortyfives will give you goosepimples - it's too good to ignore. Let's hope Kicker keep their road atlas open and travel back to Chelmsford soon." Review of fivefortyfives, Essex Chronicle September 2002

 

"Like the Specials were to Coventry or Dexy’s to Birmingham, so are Kicker to Croydon (geographically inaccurate, but we'll forgive them - Andy). It’s soulful urban guitar pop, using the pace of urban life to offset suburban ennui, to create an outlet which isn’t one selling hooky goods or a centre which isn’t one called ‘Arndale’. Kicker pitch their sound somewhere between Stereolab and the Style Council, combining the DIY pop aesthetic of the C86 guitar bands with the itchy feet of a Northern Soul club. This is a collection of their first five singles and there’s a startling consistency of quality over the twelve tracks making distinctions between notional A and B sides hard to draw. The old soul influence is there is the surprising brass flourishes in The Long Way Down and the epic bass lines married to doomy indie stylings of Chancifer or the organ-compelled Boy Have You Got It? which screams “dance, sucker!” at you. Then there are the jangly guitars of No More Tears and the classic Creation-band perfect pop sound of Baby Don’t Worry. There’s a detour into the Nuggets-style beatnik pop of the Rivieras or the Seeds on the madcap The Falling Leaves. The standouts on this album, today at least, are Said and Done, which has a Saint Etienne-like attention to pop detail: fast-paced but cool, mournful and angsty, with swirly organ and thumping bass making you sob and stomp all at once. And there’s the pure melodic rush of On Your Floor, poppy, dancey, catchy as hell and the archetypal Kicker song. Play these songs and you’ll discover that these boots weren’t just made for walking." soundsxp.com review of fivefortyfives, August 2002