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singles - october 2006
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My word, Omerta sound even more new-wave than Sound
Team. Frankly, I’ve had enough of these new fangled vocalists trying to
sound like Ian Curtis, whilst a keyboard wibbles away in the background. I
mean, this is Interpol. Or The Killers. Or something equally as dull. I
blame Martin Gore for a lot.
Watch video to 'One
More Minute'
Sam Metcalf |
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A deliciously grungey punk rock number that sounds like a cross between
Queens of the Stone Age and Siouxsie & the Banshees. The droney guitar
part half way through is genius and not a hint of either Ainsley Harriet or
Mike Reid in site.
www.dapunksportif.com
SB |
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I’ll ignore the poor grammar in the song title, and cut
straight the chase. It’s more Razorlight-lite. I’m heartily bored of this
kind of nonsense now. Please make it stop. Fucking hell. The b-side is
called ‘Hey Bang Bang’. Imbeciles.
Sam Metcalf |
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No rose tinted spectacles here as Portuguese outfit The Blood Safari sing
about 'Everything I touch turns to shit'. I know the feeling - only this
morning I spilt a bottle of milk, nearly a whole pint. But this tune is
heavily heavily influenced by the likes of The Cramps and has a raw sound
with clattering drums and garagey guitar. According to the press release
'our intention is to create a new group of evildoers, to give to migraine
the virgin minds and to all make solid the "zombidification" of the
universe' [sic]. The music is good but god knows what the hell that is on
about.
www.bloodsafari.com
SB |
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Oh, what a let down. After liking some of
Sparklehorse’s stuff down the years, this sounds like the Beatles covering
an Eagles song. Or the Eagles covering ‘Dear Prudence’. It’s limper than a
lettuce leaf that’d been left out in the sun without any hat on.
‘Ghost in the Sky’ is more like it, and is delightfully
frazzled, but if Sparklehorse are going for the Guardian readers, then
they’re halfway there with this single.
Sam Metcalf |
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A one man walking noise machine who fills every pore of your hearing with
some musical device, Jamie Says is the working title of Kyle Hill. There is
a glorious lo-fi atmosphere to the title track with the Christmas single
style percussion (bells and maracas) forming a steady backdrop to the Carter
USM style guitar lines. Poppy but indie, even slightly punk
the ever-present fuzz is continued through 'Remember' and 'Jamie Says' is
more like a two minute manifesto where the words are so distorted the
message is indecipherable - a bit like a Conservative Party Political
Broadcast then. But with much groovier guitar hooks.
SB |
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Fashionistas sing along. The Gossip do their quirky art
punk thing as well as anyone else, I guess. And this sounds a bit like Tammy
Wynette fronting Bis, and that’s quite refreshing. And then it begins to
sound a little Franz Ferdinand. I’m pretty sure there are only three songs
being written these days. And this is one of them.
Sam Metcalf |
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'Four piece alternative rock bands' - ten a penny aren't they? Some
impressive guitar hooks rapped up in a bit of a stadium rawk tune complete
with bass solo and heartfelt vocals more like. not my bag but as
'alternative rock' goes, pretty well done.
SB |
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Serena Maneesh follow up their critically acclaimed,
self-titled debut album with their second single ‘Sapphire Eyes’ remixed by
producer Brendan Lynch of Primal Scream ‘XTRMNTR’ fame. The single features
a variety of remixes kicking off with the single version, think growling
guitar with banging drums contrasting with the soft trance-like voice of.
The second mix comes from Tony Doogan, who’s produced post-rockers Mogwai,
and takes you on a trippy journey waking you up at the end to the growling
guitar heard on the first remix. An eerie ending to a psychedelic trip, the
third remix has a pounding baseline with the fourth sounding pretty much
like the first, except shorter. Nominated in the ‘Best Norwegian Band’
category for the MTV Europe Music Awards, Serena-Maneesh has made an
impression over the festival period playing at NYC’s Siren and gaining them
a following. Well worth a listen.
Watch video to 'Sapphire
Eyes'
Claire Maciejewski |
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Curiously minimalist bass hook and an electronic backing throb all the
way through this track and provide the basis for some other worldly vocals
courtesy of O de Lanzac. Very bugged out and a little bit unsettling.
'Speed' is very similar and equally creepy. What strange minds are at
work within Quad Throw Salchow?
SB |
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Is this another one of those bands like The Kooks who just seem to sound
like Supergrass but who the kids will love? Oh yes, I think it is. At least
b-side 'The Models of Soho' has a groovy kind of ska vibe.
www.thevoomblooms.com
SB |
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The Answering Machine are unremittingly bouncy and energetic which is
what you need when you peddle out just a couple of jangly chords per track.
Yelpy yelpy vocals and 3 minute pop wizardry aplenty.
www.myspace.com/theansweringmachine
SB |
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It would seem that Sound Team's mission statement is
to hit their audience hard and sure enough, when I listen to this record
with its marauding guitars and needy vocals and when I hear this bass line
that's raunchy enough to conjure memories of U2's 'New Years Day', I can't
help but feel physically entombed by the solid wall of sound that rips
through my Lansings.
Forgive the purple brevity of this review, but it is a
little niggardly of The Sound Team to give us only one song to go at and I'm
not even going to try and differentiate between the radio edit and the album
version that appears on this single. Give 'em a go - I'm sure they'll be
temporarily huge.
Alex Clark
Sound Team – Born to Please (EMI)
Sound Team are perfect teen sound fodder. Edgy,
good-looking, making music that was originally written in 1983. Thankfully,
they’re not quite as bad as Simple Minds.
I’m being cruel. ‘No More Birthdays’ is a pleasant
little folky vignette., and ‘Movie Monster’ could quite easily be the best
Flaming Lips song released this year.
All round this is a pleasing, I quite obvious single. I
feel the urge to be surprised…
Sam Metcalf |
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An eerie backing vocal throughout this delicate yet maudlin song
generates a real uneasy and slightly disturbed atmosphere. The nicely
muted guitars leave Joan Wasser's haunting voice to take centre stage, which
is exactly where it should be. Cool video too.
Watch video to 'Christobel'
SB |
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I’m not really sure whether Rose Kemp is just another
kooky female singer-songwriter, or is something genuinely okay. ‘Violence’
starts off sounding like something from the first Cure album, but then drips
into a more FM-raydeeo sound, and that’s never helpful.
One doesn’t need another Alanis Morrissette, and one
won’t listen to another one. However, there’s enough here to suggest that
Rose Kemp isn’t just another faux-hippy in bare feet. Must try harder.
Sam Metcalf |
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A twinkling synth intro heralds the dawn of another band in the currently
long line of Manchester bands staking a claim in the electro pop field. What
threatens to be sound like a rather poor Killers song soon throws off these
shackles and starts to shine more in the vogue of fellow Mancunians
Performance.
Doll House is a more assured and dirtier track which has a similar rotten
groove to defunct Leeds act Bedlam Ago-Go. Play loud for maximum effect.
www.myspace.com/bureauband
SB |
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Sonic Youth like them, they’re
better then The Raconteurs, and there a bunch of rich snotty shits. So put
your hair spray on
Then get on a
Bicycle Bicycle
To the Record Store.
Then get on a
Bicycle Bicycle
Home. Put the
Bicycle Bicycle
Away. And listen to……..Bicycle Bicycle.
It’s the best song if you haven’t
got the album yet.
Chuck. A. Wobbly |
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‘Lifespan’ is the debut single from North London band
Nemo taken from their album ‘Post Human Love’. With a combination of
energetic punk, rock, electronics and pop melodies this quartet sound
somewhat like The Kings of Leon and The Killers mashed together, sprinkled
with a bit of Franz Ferdinand. ‘Lifespan’ itself is a frenzied rock infused
number with a fast energetic pace. The B sides vary within the electro /
punk / rock and pop sound that they’ve established over the past 2 years in
which time they’ve supported acts such as The Paddingtons, Sneaker Pimps and
We Are Scientists. The single looks promising and with all the backing
they’ve had, it’ll be interesting to see what comes of their debut album.
Claire Maciejewski |
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It seems everyone wants to jump on the indie folk bandwagon. I'm sure
that Seth is a nice enough chap and there are some splendid mandolin
sections in this track but it's, well, a bit boring innit? Have a listen
yourself below - I stand by my word.
Listen to 'The
White Hare'
SB |
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The song is called
“Orange” and it’s on orange vinyl. Cackling being tickled girl voice kicks
it off. It’s very synth pop, and has touches of lovelorn soft boy vocals
while the wibblingness does its stuff in the background. Pleasant enough for
a summer day sat under a tree having your head stroked by a young lady/lad.
“Three Mile Wish” is a big fat Gameboyesque instrumental sort of thing that
if I knew anything about programming keyboard might be the sort of thing I’d
try and do before I gave up clueless. Overall, as debuts go, promise shown.
Dave Procter |
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Creepy. It's only after you have
been listening for about 5 minutes and a bit of scratchy guitar and Hammer
hose of Horror organ creeps in that you realise that the whole track thus
far has been built on the pulsing bass and wailing vocal harmonies. Ade
Blackburn's almost spoken word vocals sound almost unwillingly released
through gnashing teeth. All very atmospheric and all very good.
Watch video to 'Harvest'
SB Clinic – “Harvest”
It can sometimes be reassuring to
catch up with a band you lost track of a few albums down the line, only to
find their modus operandi is much the same. In the case of Clinic, those
voodoo-stomp vibes, indecipherable lyrics sung as if through clenched teeth,
and backing vocals akin to a horde of slightly perturbed owls are like old
friends. So, no huge difference…except that all their new stuff sounds a bit
like 70’s cop show theme music as well. Nice one!
www.dominorecordco.com
Will Columbine |
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What’s that mother, more
vinyl? Has santa been? It’s red vinyl this time, a double helping of Gallic
pop music. Call Me Loretta head down the lofi indie autoroute, coming out a
bit Dinosaur Jr and with a bit of See See Rider chucked in for very good
measure. I also sense some Pavementy thoughts and some Velvet (underground +
nico) mornings. Tres bien.
Nuit Noire’s fans apparently think they’re Black Metal. I think they’re
punk/speedcore, which would suggest 1 of us is wrong. It’s not Black Metal,
it’s too scratchy and fast and not enough laden with the doom of the world.
Is it any cop? The recording is rough, but, yes. Ear syringingly so.
Dave Procter |
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The Hedrons are all ladies. From
Glasgow no less. They have guitars and they like the sort of simple riffs
that the Stooges would thrash out. The vocals are pretty impressively
screamed out too and would give Iggy a run for his money. All in all good
signs then, which is vital as they will need the royalties to fund lozenge
purchases.
www.thehedrons.com
SB |
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Our final bit of vinyl is the red and black 12”
produce of Agent Of The Morai. The title track is heavy, with a sort of War
Pigs type 2 chorder thing. Then we get some vocals, but not your normal sort
of vocals. Napalm Death meets Frank Black meets Steve Albini meets Extreme
Noise Terror type doom metal. Not the sort of stuff Gordon Brown or Dave
Cameron would claim to have on their mobile wax cylinder machine. The riffs
are intense, the brain is unsettled and the kidneys vibrate while “Escape
The Torment” deals with any doubts to the intensity of this music. You’ve
got to be into this stuff to fully appreciate it. It’s well recorded and
produced which surprised me a bit, but if a bloke screaming into a mike
while what sounds like a nuclear demolition is taking place behind it is
your bag, you’ll love this.
Dave Procter |
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Hmm, what's this? Although
Lorraine claim to take influences from Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order and
The Smiths, 'Heaven' sounds more like mediocre 80's pop music as peddled by
Waterman an co. The reverse of the double AA single 'Saved' is doubley
mediocre. Go back to your fjords you naughty Norwegians.
www.lorrainemusic.com
See the 'Heaven'
microsite
SB |
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It’s the 60s and you’re sitting in an opium den with
Jim Morrison, Kulashaker and The Inspiral Carpets and they’re all creating
sweet, psychedelic, crunchy, poppy music and you’ve got something of what
‘Piece of Plastic’ sounds like. The Caerphilly quintet ‘We Are Trees’
release their second single after already having rave reviews for their
first single ‘See You Later’. A brilliant follow up, this song has catchy
lyrics, an infectious tune and in my opinion is top notch. They don’t
disappoint either with the second song ‘Trace’ and its addictive chorus. The
boys are currently gigging it in London but are returning to their native
Wales for the single launch on Saturday 21st October at
Callaghans in Cardiff so if you’re in any of these places, go see them.
Already they’ve supported such fine acts such as Kasabian and The Subways
and me thinks they’re only going to get better and better. A top notch act
to say the least. Log on to
www.wearetrees.co.uk to check out their next port of call.
Claire Maciejewski |
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Thank god that for every ten drab
Coldplay soundalikes there is someone like Kat Vipers who consistently
defies categorisation. Not that I wont try of course.
The Vipers sound is a gothic cabaret fling based on percussive piano
playing and extremely strange vocals ranging from purring like a cat to the
ranting incantations of a verbose witch. On this EP, Vipers has even managed
to reign in her instinct to go for the extreme reaches of what is listenable
and provided in 'Queen Bee' a track which is almost quite accessible. She
still scares the life out of me though.
www.katvipers.com
SB |
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'Diamonds in the Sky'
sounds like Chrystal Gayle singing the title music to a late night detective
show. Well, alright, as well as the slide guitar there is a little bit of
float Air-style whooshes. But not much else.
The remixes on the other hand are damn fine, especially the robotic
'Emperor Machine Vocal Remix' which really gets going after about 3 minutes
with a real disco vibe.
See the video to 'Diamonds
in the Sky'
www.husky-rescue.com
SB |
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Well this is an agreeable Euro club track that features the slightly
drunken sounding vocals of Sara Berg and some whooshy beats and rhythms.
Quite simple in structure, not too demanding but not too housey either. Plus
three other equally inoffensive but unarresting remixes. If this is your bag
then you will be swirling glow sticks like a banshee, if not you will be
ignoring it as the background music in the Slug and Lettuce on a Saturday
night.
www.melynk.net
SB |
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Another double-header from WCS
Records proves to be their finest so far. The Follow kicks off with Joy
Division/Cure-influenced pop that explodes into a propulsive chorus. Those
yowling vocals could strip paint though, so three cheers for Mimas who
dispense with singing in favour of undulating post-rock loveliness. Neither
act is in any danger of letting the other side down.
www.thefollow.net
www.mimassite.com
Will Columbine |
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The second great single by The Knife in
just a couple of months sees the return of their other-worldly metallic
grating sound which could best be likened to a loved-up Aphex Twin. The
loops are hyper-synthetic and the vocals are produced to match.
As if this wasn't chilling enough there are 4 other remixes on the
release which are even more eerie and sinister. The extended club remix even
introduces some scary, growly dog noises that eventually morph into a vocal
loop. Very disturbed but very neat.
www.theknife.net
Watch the video to 'The
Knife'
SB |
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Not the best band name in the world,
but at least LDD already has its basic musical identity intact. “Your Little
Dream” is a rousing soft-rock anthem with a memorable chorus vocal – in fact
I can already picture the video on MTV2 – and if the other two tracks are
less memorable then at least they aren’t identikits. Those fiddly Muse piano
bits have got to go though.
www.lovedeathdreams.com
Will Columbine |
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More cheese-grater percussive
guitars and mentalist screaming vocals that sound like the man on the verge
of a nervous breakdown. The sound of a three vehicle pile-up involving a
travelling circus sideshow, a van full of chainsaws and a second hand
ukulele salesman's Ford Mondeo.
www.archiebronsonoutfit.com
Watch video to 'Cherry
Lips'
SB |
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If Death Cab for Cutie tried to
write an acoustic number in the style of Elliott Smith whilst singing in a
South London twang, the end result might not be entirely dissimilar to this
pleasant enough emo/folk-ballad. With a little luck, Ben could soon be
winning the hearts of girls with horn-rimmed glasses everywhere.
www.benmarwood.com
Will Columbine |
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Ah yes - find inner piece my friends as LA based electro vermin Techno
Squirrels return with their mantra based single 'Om Mani'. Whether or not
you take on the Dalai Lama's personal advice and 'be thinking on its
meaning' while reciting these words (god bless Wikipedia), you will be
treated to a track that sounds very Orbital/Chemical Brothers, a kind of
retro techno, if you will.
More interesting is the B-side 'My Shrimplike Beat' which is a warbling
trancey tune and reminds me of a mix tape I got given in 1994. Hey - I liked
it very much but it did end by just fizzingly out a bit weakly.
There are also three remixes of the single which further seem to delve
back into electronic musical history for their queues - Rene Patrique's mix
seems definitely 80's based. I don't know who Robert Jax is but his horrible
mix sounds like it should be confined to a concrete lined time capsule in
1990s Ibiza. A bit of a disappointing close to an otherwise decent ep.
www.technosquirrels.com
SB |
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Two brain-pummelling tracks that
threaten to slit your ear-drums open, such are the razor-sharp qualities of
the guitar and “singing”. “Like Thom Yorke jamming with Suicide” is how ddd
is keen to promote himself. Like Brian Molko giving mouth-to-mouth to the
still-twitching corpse of Test Icicles would be an equally apt summation.
Not half as bad as that sounds but definitely not for everyone.
www.whiteheatrecords.com
Will
Columbine |
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A pretty uneventful piano-led dance track that only really gets going
after about 3 miutes when some 'The Box' era Orbital style effects come into
play. The 'Mix 3' version is a bit more interesting in a harp-filled way but
certainly couldn't keep my attention for its full 8minutes 42 seconds.
www.henrikschwarz.com
SB |
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Like The Violent Femmes foaming at
the mouth on amphetamine, “When I Left Work Today” is the sound of two men
railing against the daily grind in a blizzard of furious strumming and
mash-up drumming. “The Man in Me” is nowhere near as frenetic, but both
tracks are master-classes of economy (one voice, one guitar, one drum-kit)
and quite unlike anything I’ve encountered before.
www.myspace.com/theacutes
Will
Columbine |
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redcars are certainly a very self assured band and one that seem to be
able to weave together a decent pop tune within a bleak post-rock/post punk
frame of reference while still imparting their own individuality on
proceedings. The chorused vocals still resonate of Punish the Atom (which I
guess will soon be a sound of their own since the split of PTA) and the
slashy guitars are still a bit Forward Russia. But this single packs an
unexpected punch at the end in the form of a fantastic drum-smashing finale
that will leave Zildjans the world over trembling in fear.
www.redcarsgofaster.com
SB |
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It’s always a refreshing change to
listen to music without any agenda. Michael Rossiter turns in three examples
of hushed folk music, one instrumental in a Jim O’Rourke vein (“Nameless
Lick”), as well as his own take on two traditional arrangements. Very
Fairport Convention…their modesty is what makes them so lovely.
www.michaelrossiter.co.uk
Will
Columbine |
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A rampant and unexpected combination of Mariachi style guitars and song
writing with a punk rock attitude. It all sounds very sweaty and worth
brushing off your chaps and re-frying your beans for.
www.sixnationstate.com
SB |
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Hearing singles of this quality is
the main perk of fanzine writing. Taking the Fugazi blueprint and adding a
dash of post-rock, Centrifuge offer up more twists and turns inside of four
minutes than an entire Snow Patrol album….just when you think you’ve got
them pegged, they head off in yet another direction. The instance when the
sliding bass-line kicks in makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on
end. Quite simply, it rocks.
The B-side manages to be more
conventional and, dare I say, emo-centric without being any less
predictable. This band is a well-oiled machine, and if they were a car then
you can be sure that Clarkson would cum in his Levis
www.centrifuge1.co.uk
Will
Columbine |
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Another next big thing being touted by arbiters of style and taste Lowe
and Lamacq, Protokoll have that sound which is just so 'now'. Keyboards +
slashy guitars and mid-Atlantic twang=Killers=paydirt. They do seem to have
a sense of humour though because their third track on this single sounds a
bit like a cross between Sigue Sigue Sputnik and MArk Knopfler's' Local
Hero!
SB |
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Sadly not an opus to the versatile Aston Villa utility player but a
couple of tracks of heavily funked up bluesey nonsense that seems to have
been squeezed out of some antique valve amps turned up to within an inch of
their lives. A bit of a curio but all harmless enough fun.
SB |
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Never ones to miss a trick - Domino are releasing this track which
recently featured on a Lnyx deodorant advert. But if you think this stinks (haha!)
then take a listen to the kick ass slide guitar that's going on and the
frenzied gospel tinged vocals. Mind you, I bet there are loads of bands in
the mid-west of the US who are doing this better and who haven't been paid
to flog pit spray.
www.theblueskins.com
Watch video to 'Change
My Mind'
SB |
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Not a repository for second hand MJ songs but the jangly indie of the
latest tasty CD submission. Actually, 'Hotel by the Sea' sounds more like a
cross between the Rolling Stones' 'Paint it Black' and Little Man Tate's
'Man I hate Your Band'. Not too bad either.
www.jacksonwarehouseband.com
SB |
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Belle de Jour is surely Bristol-based Santa Dog's finest hour to date. A
wonderfully languid yet taught piece of song writing in '1000 Cranes', the
EP closer is by far my favourite track with lilting, unexpected key changes
and a ringing, trippy guitar tone. But the fore-running 'Belle de Jour' and
Rosa are also self assured efforts, harnessing a summery pop ethic with
bitter sweet lyrics that build triumphantly to a rousing outro.
www.santa-dog.co.uk
SB |
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I am a bit confused. I first heard this track on the Hackpen compilation
album 'The Nyquist Theory' but it was called 'America 4 Ever' and it was
credited to a band called Myth of the Elite Brigade. Very odd.
But the track remains heavily bass driven with its mass of crime
statistics sampled over a mechanical guitar hook and ranting vocals line.
About as subtle as a one liner from Lily Savage and all the better for it.
www.bonemachine.co.uk
SB |
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SiXeR certainly achieve what they set out to do in terms of creating a
dreamy, echoey sound with loads of guitar delays on this track. But it's
just a bit drab. No wonder they list their greatest musical achievement so
far as having an instrumental released on a computer game.
SB |
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I accelerated this one towards the top of the singles pile merely on the
basis that it had kind of groovy seventies suburbia style cover artwork. As
it turns out, it is also one of the weirdest and most fantastical releases
this month.
'Boring Lifestyles' is all warped punk-ska-electro with just a bit of
Blur-pop thrown in for good measure. It sounds like half of the instruments
have not been tuned correctly and they all jar against each other in a
triumphantly archaic noise that begins to make sense once your synapses have
recovered adequately. B-side 'Happy Alone' is, well, more of the same
really.
SB |
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An EP split between three UK bands with a fondness for
being a bunch of noisy bastards here from Southampton’s Milliepeed records,
and what better band to kick off the proceedings than Leeds based
hardcore-thrash schlockers Chickenhawk. The two tracks here show exactly why
Chickenhawk are being embraced by all who love rock as they demonstrate
their love of razor sharp riffs, complex time signatures, flashes of beauty
and masses of noise to boot. Excellent stuff indeed but two tracks just
isn’t enough.
And then following that the rest of the release just
feels a bit like an anti-climax. I Breathe Spears and With Scissors are both
perfectly good at what they do and fly the hardcore flag with pride but it
just fails to excite. The first two tracks on repeat it is then.
Luke Drozd |
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From the opening strains of feedback guitar this sounds like the lively
promise of the north east's The Sound Explosion. And not a david Lynch
reference in sight.
'Get Your Gun Boy' is a thigh slapping, liquor drinking, cotton pickin'
country and western number but with big crunching distorted guitar choruses.
Like the Who playing a honky tonk saloon bar. Yeehah!
www.myspace.com/exileparade
SB |
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Definite Celtic overtones (or undertones?) to this sweeping ballady
affair with soaring vocals from Liz Young and some ringing guitars from Ben
Goddard. The harmonica sounds a bit strangled at times and occasionally
Young's vocals are a bit too pure for the sound, seeming rather incongruous.
It's all a bit big on glossy production but lacking in substance.
www.ellenby.co.uk
SB |
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So the concept is this - Musowire provide an internet based CD
distribution service. Anyone who has ever tried self releasing a CD will
know how difficult it is to get a distribution deal so this sounds like a
good idea - no contracts, no commitment to follow up albums etc. So the plus
side is there for all to see - any hopeful young things wanting to release a
CD can get in touch and get Musowire to do it for them. Sorted.
Then there are the downsides. Quality control for one. It's a pity this
promotional compilation contains a selection of seriously dated, unoriginal
and leaden sounds. I can be critical but seriously - these are awful.
Despite reducing the difficulty of getting a CD out there is something
useful about the Machiavellian workings of the music industry. It acts as a
natural break on people who want to release music but really shouldn't do.
It's not just about being commercial but not flooding the world with
mediocre music (we have MySpace for that). Just because you want to release
a CD does not mean that you should. End of today's sermon according to
tasty.
www.musowire.com
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Not even a tremendously named record label or even some pretty groovy
slide guitar can lift this song above the tedious 3-chord progression that
it truly is. Soz.
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What is about Oxford that makes all the guys sing like ladies? Well not
quite true but Phil McMinn's opening lines sound very gentle and womanly
before building up into a rousing crescendo. This is so reminiscent of
iLiKETRAiNS, Snow Patrol, Sigur Ros et al that it hurts, but it is still
pretty good. 'These Are heart Attacks' has a bit more of an up and at 'em
beat to it that no doubt gets the heads bobbing at Fell City Girl shows.
Restrained yet triumphant.
www.fellcitygirl.co.uk
Watch video to 'February
Snow'
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Ahh, Enter Shikari...at times like these I am reminded of my esteemed
colleague Luke Drozd who I believe once said 'Why the sweet lord of fuck
does this melodic hardcore punk monstrosity have an early nineties rave
backing to it?'. Have we received a suitable answer yet. We have not. And
the pain continues.
www.entershikari.com
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The most exciting thing to come out of Preston since, err, David Moyes,
The KBC release another classic single to follow up 'Sherlock Groove
Holmes' that will get the indie dance floors pounding. Similar to The
Sunshine Underground, this single sees a highly successful marriage of funk
basslines with a more mainstream indie guitar and vocal style. Drums are
scattergun which adds to the excitement. Definitely ones to watch methinks.
www.thekbc.net
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Not a million miles from the K.B.C. actually this one. From the highly
listenable album 'Enemies Like This', 'Packing Things Up..' is one of the
highlights, bass heavy, tune heavy and atmospheric agit-punk (much though I
hate that description). Quite what anyone would need with an unrecognisable
9 minute long 'Loving Hand Remix' is uncertain but I guess it's better than
the pointless instrumental version also included.
www.r4ny.com
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The highly agreeable mix of scuzzy mashed up electronics and overdubbed
female vocals always gets the tasty trainers grooving a little around our
rented 2 room bedsit. A bit like The Soho Dolls used to soud before they
hired two guys in band and got all serious. This is much more fun, and
mainly produced with analogue Casio synths by the sound of it. Splendid!
www.deluka.co.uk
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If you are a fan of Supergrass then you may like this as it is very
similar. Alternatively, you may think that Supergrass were far superior to
Air Traffic and so will continue to listen to 'Richard IIIrd' and 'Moving'.
Funny how music comes full circle...
www.air-traffic.co.uk
Watch video to 'Never
Even Told Me Her Name'
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Prinz Ezo (aka Bjørn Svin) dishes up some
deliciously squdgy and squelchy electro beats and bleeps in this four track
release. The minimal 'Ice' and 'Insect' manage to cut through the air like a
sonic laser and proving that sometimes less is more. This is highly
atmospheric and despite being almost muted, the underlying rhythm weaves its
subtle charm without ever over crowding the filigree of loops and samples.
'Hedgehog' sees a distorted heartbeat like beat
forging away like the Aphex Twin's noisier moments - slowly phasing in and
out until ultimately reducing to just a few clicks then nothing. Closing
track 'Semi Mood' is an icy series of tones and rings occasionally
interspersed with bird song like clicks and oscillations. Ostensibly
electronic but overtly organic too.
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