Colourful Tokyo-based quartet Broken Doll are one of the latest toasts of the Tokyo fashion scene. Branching out from the Broken Doll boutique, owned by lead guitarist Kensuke, the band has found itself in a pertinent situation, whereby its members’ diverging art styles and love for music goes hand in hand in producing a concrete marketing tool. And that’s no bad thing on the basis of their latest album Reach For The Sky.

A cover of Poison’ s ‘Nothing But A Good Time’ and shades of The Ramones to be found in ‘She’s Shifty’ are some of Reach For The Sky’ s highlights - an outing of a distinctly eighties flavour, which mixes up prevalent classic punk chords with meaty solos. Sachi offsets an otherwise anarchic sound with her cutesy lead vocals, placing something of a pop spin on things; she may not belt out the lyrics in hardcore fashion but she carries a chorus well in delightfully catchy numbers such as ‘Reach For The Sky’ and ‘Just Tell Me Now’. An earnest release which doesn’t feel over-produced, Reach For The Sky is a tasty treat that’s easily digested in well under 30 minutes. Just how we like it.

(Broken Doll’s Reach for the Sky can be purchased directly through Japan Underground)