From the Daily Record 20th March '09:

Spy Movie - Philip Larkin Said EP

Another Scots band whose musical year zero was the Postcard sound. So as well as the title track referring to the gloomy English poet, the songs have jangly guitars, descending chords and jaunty beats.
'Philip Larkin Said' doesn't quote his poetry, but does reference film Gregory's Girl as singer Kat King's crystal vocals soar.
There's another great wordsmith namechecked in 'What Would Morrissey Say' and for me this is the better tune. It's a catchy cross between Jesus And Mary Chain's April skies era and Stone Roses.
The lyrics are superb as Kat wonders what Morrissey would say about her life: "I feel terribly guilty that I live in Newton Mearns, I'll probably be the last of the gang to die in bed". I reckon Mozza would love this. The band play Cassette, Glasgow, on Mar 26.

Rick Fulton
www.myspace.com/rickfulton1

Philip Larkin Said by Spy Movie
Thom Morgan - ThereGoesTheFear

It’s hard to define this band, they’re something like Joy Division fronted by Debbie Harry. The EP is smooth and flows well, opener ‘Philip Larkin Said’ is slightly more pleasant than anything Ian & Co. would have churned out but it maintains a very 80s vibe. The carefully chosen guitar chords towards the end provide a summer feel and the track is indie-pop brilliance..

Second track ‘What Would Morrissey Say?’ is immediately darker and the bass provides a brilliant tone for the track. The lyrics also take a sinister twist; “I walk a lonely road/Of disenchantment, misery and regret.”

The track as a whole seems much more lowbeat and the bass in particular is brilliant in commanding the verses and keeping the song as a whole in rhythm. ‘Keswick’ is the final track on this EP and starts off with a gentle acoustic strum and soft vocals follow.

The band have shown good musical versatility through the record, their tone ranging from the upbeat opener, to the dark ‘What Would Morrissey Say?’ and finally the soft acoustic ‘Keswick.’ Soft on the ears and light on the tone the song brings a good closing to a solid début.

Whilst there are many strong points, the vocals are inconsistent, whilst the delicate voice of Kat is suited to tracks like ‘Keswick,’  the darker tracks demand more haunting vocals (see Ian Curtis (or even Morrissey)This is the only place the EP  falls and perhaps alternating vocals between the male and female leads would serve the backing music better.. All in all though the EP is brilliant..

What would Morrissey say?? Probably well done..

Thom Morgan

http://www.theregoesthefear.com/‏

From the March edition of Tasty Fanzine:
Spy Movie - 'Philip Larkin Said' (Viva Genius)

'Sexual intercourse began / in 1963 / which was rather late for / Spy Movie'.
 This is what the 80s really sounded like. Big guitar strumming much in the manner of Lloyd Cole, ingenious jazzy vocals and unselfconciously pretentious lyricism. Plus a badge, which has a picture of a real spy on it. Watch out for their 'secret' free gig on the roof of Hull university.

Jon Gordon
http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/

Philip Larkin Said EP review from Blues Bunny
Spy Movie -Philip Larkin Said
No catalogue number -2009

There once was this band from Glasgow called Mouse Eat Mouse. Critics everywhere agreed that they were something special.  Deranged, art house and pretentious were words used to describe them and they were never ever accused of being dull.  However, like so many bands that dared to be different, one day they simply imploded.

Surviving said implosion was Johnny White who decided to start another band called Spy Movie.  This time however, he has eschewed the near Beefheartian splendours of his previous band and went the way of the west end
and this EP easily parks itself near other local luminaries like the Green Peppers and the Ten to Five Project.It's all polished and nicely performed as you would expect and the lyrics show the delicate touch that comes of education
(even managing to reference the film "Gregory's Girl" - how cool is that?). Kat King's vocals have an appealingly wistful edge to them and I have to admit they were the best thing about these songs. Overall though, this EP just lacked the sparkle to make it special.

Unless you wear a cardigan, of course.

Rating = 3 Carrots
http://www.bluesbunny.com