Messier than a bunch of children given paint for the first time and a wall at which to throw it, Goons of Doom’s debut album The Story of Dead Barbie and Ghost isn’t so much a completed document as it is a work in progress.

Brought together in less than a week, there’s a refreshing burst of energy and honesty to it that marks it as a debut that will, if the band can hang together long enough, be come to be regarded as an important stepping stone. There’s something about it that indicates that Goons of Doom are going to be a group on the rise for quite a few years, before they really nail it.

Part of the reason for this is that when they’re very good, they’re incredibly exciting. Witness the likes of the sort-of title cut “Dead Barbie and Ghost”, with its surf guitar motifs and irrepressible spunk. “Wimps” is another case in point – a genuine pop winner, it and “It Stinks” complement the freeform wilfulness of “Ballerina” well.

There’s certainly too many ideas found on The Story of Dead Barbie and Ghost to make it come close to a cohesive piece of work. Perhaps Goons of Doom don’t want to be that sort of band though – they certainly showcase an array of ideas and potential futures on this debut. Where they go from here is anyone’s guess, but watching their progress is going to be a lot of fun.