ZANG TUMMM TUMB ARTICLES “the first draft of history”

tATu: 200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane

It would be reassuring to be able to report that this offering by the Russian teen-duo-with-a-gimmick (are they or arent they lesbians?) is wretched.

Sadly, though, Tatu — or tATu, as they irritatingly spell it — have redeeming features. The hypnotic single All the Things She Said is the most obvious, raising the bar for formula-pop several notches.

Not Gonna Get Us is almost punk in its high-kicking raucousness, and their cover of the Smiths How Soon Is Now? is either the best or the worst thing ever. I fancy Morrissey would approve of the eastern-European melancholia of their interpretation.

A bonus trio of songs in Russian even lends educational value, though they probably translate as: “Were not really lesbians! Were just shrill-voiced chancers who would never have got anywhere without provocative lyrics and a Trevor Horn production.” But that just amplifies the charm.