Manchester is perhaps most famous for two things – its football and its music. With a music scene so strong and so steeped in history, it’s no surprise the world sees a continual export of bands from the city.

In recent years, dance-punk band The Whip has been part of this export. Formed in 2007, the band began as a four-piece and has since survived several line-up changes. The current three-piece has just released its second album, Wired Together, a follow-up to 2008’s X Marks Destination.

Wired Together kicks off with the impressively catchy "Keep or Delete". It’s a great opening track and is the best example of the band’s penchant for well-formed pop hooks. As a dance track infused with a healthy dose of pop music, "Keep or Delete" sets the tone for the rest of the album.

This dance-pop fusion is immediately clear on the album, but with this inclusion of pop the album won’t exactly have hardcore dance fans raving (pardon the pun). The tracks are heavily synth-based with distinct dance beats, obvious in tracks like "Riot". Yet, the pop melodies and vocals give tracks like "Keep or Delete" and "Best Friend" a marked pop feel.

At times though, The Whip’s sound is reminiscent of older electronic music. This is most obvious through the band’s choice of synths, drawing clear influence from bands like Kraftwerk. Still, don’t listen to The Whip expecting a retro sound. Through more traditional pop, the band still retain a distinct modern feel, similar to some of the bands signed to Modular over the last few years.

The tracks on Wired Together don’t deviate far from The Whip’s dance-pop template. However, to the band’s credit, each track does have its own individual feel.

The album ends with the aptly titled "Slow Down". This song is slow – or at least slow relative to others on the album. Its distinctive atmospheric sound makes it a great end-of-the-night track.

Above all, Wired Together showcases The Whip’s instinctive ability to write a catchy pop hook. These hooks bring an injection of pop into a dance album that still retains the band’s punk edge.

Review Score: 7.5/10