Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, April 28
IndieLondon gleefully checks out the cream of the week’s singles. All you have to do is click on the pictures to order them…
SINGLE OF THE WEEK: POP LEVI – NEVER NEVER LOVE: Having impressed with his contagious debut album The Return To Form Black Magick Party Pop Levi returns with the utterly infectious new single Never Never Love, the first track to emerge from his sophomore LP of the same name. From its bouncy beats to its cheeky electro toms and powerful guitar stabs, this feelgood slice of sexy dance pop is cheeky, disarmingly simple and utterly captivating. You’ll be dancing along in kooky appreciation, whilst chanting the “never, never love” chorus before you know what’s hit you. And that’s not bad for a single that’s designed to be a cheeky yet mournful ode to failing love and unrequited lust. I could take or leave the Pink Enemy remix but the Astral version of Love You Straight is a sly piece of grinning schmaltz that’s blissfully laidback, more than a little psychadelic and downright romantic to boot. Please, please rush out and support this artist.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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ROBYN – WHO’S THAT GIRL: Robyn’s new single Who’s That Girl is another example of why the Swedish pop star is currently one of the hottest acts on the planet right now – a pop star with genuine crossover appeal. One of the album’s standout tracks, it skilfully combines the pop durability and fun of early Madonna (circa Holiday) with the attitude of Pink and vocal traces of Cyndi Lauper. It’s uplifting, utterly infectious and a future pop classic – and benefits from the slick production assistance of uber cool fellow Swedes The Knife. Remixes for Who’s That Girl come from Seamus Haji, Rex The Dog and Drop The Lime – but stick with the original as it’s still the best. And if you haven’t already purchased the album, then what are you waiting for?
Rating: 4 out of 5
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DELAYS – HOORAY: What else could you expect from a track from Delays called Hooray other than a euphoric slice of pulse-quickening indie pop-rock? The first single to be taken from Delays’ latest album, Everything’s The Rush is a real slice of fresh air. Yes, the distinct Aaron Gilbert, quasi-falsetto vocals are intact (albeit a little more reigned in than usual) as is the keen sense of melody contained within the vibrant guitars. But there’s a real guilty pleasure to be found in listening to Delays’ material that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and keep it there. It all bodes extremely well for the forthcoming album, which hits stores one week later, on May 5.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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CRISIS – CONSEQUENCES: In live form, Consequences was the result of the likes of Supergrassm Beth Ditto, Graham Coxon, New Young Pony Club, The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, Supergrass and The Noisettes getting together to perform an exclusive rendition of a specially created track, alongside some of their own material, to raise money for the homelessness charity Crisis. The event was organised by Pearl Lowe, who also performed with her husband and Supergrass drummer, Danny Goffey. In single form, this super-group of sorts aim to further the work they started at Camden’s Roundhouse to raise awareness and funds for an ongoing crisis. The track is strong enough to do just that on its own merits and is as worthy an addition to anyone’s record collection as previous super-group collaborations such as Band Aid. And even if you don’t like it, there’s still a worthwhile cause that will benefit…
Rating: 4 out of 5
BEN’S BROTHER – STUTTERING: KISS ME AGAIN: UK pop-soul oufit Ben’s Brother return with another impressive single in the form of Stuttering: Kiss Me Again. Taken from the forthcoming album Beta Male Fairytales, this is a slow-burning acoustic track that plays on the stuttering name of the title with a few jittery vocals perfectly delivered by soulful lead singer and songwriter Jamie Hartmann (who certainly draws favourable comparisons with Turin Brakes). It’s an achingly romantic effort that contains a strong chorus and a really endearing sensibility. In fact, the track is poised to do really well for the five-piece, having become something of an internet phenomenon since being used in a chewing gum advert in America. The track went on to amass over 50,000 sales on iTunes before it even got played on the radio and is currently climbing up the US Radio charts. It’s well worth the attention.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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ONE NIGHT ONLY – IT’S ABOUT TIME: Bright young indie hopefuls One Night Only release one of the highlights from their above average debut album, Started A Fire in the form of It’s About Time. Lead singer George Craig seems to be having fun wrapping his lips around the melodies and shouting out the occasional “oh oh oh”, presumably with live performances in mind, while the positivity proves infectious thanks to lines like “it’s about time you were back in my life, because I need you honey”. The lyrics do have a darker, more defiant undercurrent, but in terms of delivering a catchy song to carry them through the early summer months, this should ensure that One Night Only remain in the limelight.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP – LOOK FOR THE WOMAN: Purveyors of towering electro and challenging pop, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip herald the release of their keenly anticipated debut album with new single Look For The Woman, a leftfield, low-key dance track that’s designed to provide a love song for all those sick of love songs. The track finds Scroobius’ wry self-depracating look at love juxtaposed by Dan Le Sac’s fragile vocal and electro backing. It’s understated as dance tracks go but all the better for it, eventually coming alive at around the three minute mark and confirming what you already knew – that you dig it. The remixes fly thick and fast, but it’s worth paying particular attention to the ultra funky, semi-psychedelic Zane Lowe version (yes, he’s a fan), and the piano heavy DJ Yoda take, which envelopes the vocals in a cinematic quality, as well as some sharp stabs of brass. Even if you don’t quite get the original, the remixes – for once – make it worth owning.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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ISOBEL CAMPBELL AND MARK LANEGAN – WHO BUILT THE ROAD: Isobel Campbell returns with her muse, Mark Lanegan, after their Mercury nominated 2006 effort, Ballad Of The Broken Seas. Who Built The Road is the pair’s first single from their second outing and is full of dusty country melody, whistful lyricism and beguiling melody. As usual, Campbell’s sweet, dream-like vocals serve as a nice contrast to Lanegan’s gruffer style, while the impossibly laidback style could well help to ease even the most whisky-soaked hangover. It’s a quietly effective record that looks set to build on the success of the couple’s debut album, while – quite possibly – winning them an ever bigger fanbase. The album, Sunday At Devil Dirt is released on May 12.
Rating: 4 out of 5
YOAV – CLUB THING: Yoav is a rapidly emerging young artist who is credited with being able to match the leftfield edge of Beck and Radiohead with the kind of sure-footed pop hooks Justin Timberlake would be proud of. Evidence of this ability is rife throughout new single Club Thing, a seductive tale of clubland excess in which the singer-songwriter proves he only needs his trusty acoustic guitar to compete with Timbaland’s beat-making. It’s a disarmingly simple record, but tellingly effective – the hand-struck beats coming off the acoustic wood to create a stripped-back but effective, even hip, percussion and some noteworthy guitar licks. Yoav’s vocals, too, embrace the falsetto style of Timberlake, at times, but marry it with a world-weary depth more akin to Beck and Thom Yorke. It’s the sort of record that’ll leave you thirsting for more…
Rating: 4 out of 5
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HADOUKEN! – DECLARATION OF WAR: Declaration of War is the first official single to be taken from Hadouken!’s debut album, Music For An Accelerated Culture. It’s a pumped up effort that embraces a more robust technical sound, as well as a keener sense of melody during the semi-decent chorus. But while it’s a marked improvement on some of their previous efforts, it still takes some getting used to and is probably a little too pumped up for many tastes. Vocally, it’s assured, employing some layered vocoder elements early on, some shouted, Automatic-style chants later on, and a more tuneful chorus, but it’s actually a record that gets better the longer it continues. The intro has a been there, heard it before quality that almost has you reaching for the off button before it’s had chance to flourish. Give it a go, though, and you may be pleasantly surprised, if adrenaline-rush, non-conformist songwriting is what you seek.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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PENDULUM – PROPANE NIGHTMARES: Pendulum release the single Propane Nightmares as a taster of their second LP, In Silico, out on May 12. The track, like the band itself, seeks to push the drum ‘n’ bass into a more rock-driven territory, and offers an odd, dizzying mix of crashing beats and guitars. Initially, it lulls you into a false sense of security with a slow intro and some electronic sounding horns, before then letting loose in spectacular fashion. But while it shows initial promise, the ensuing sound is a little too wild and all over the place and it should be interesting to discover just what listening demographic they appeal to. So, while they get points for ambition, Pendulum have some way to go before they convince us of their genuine worth. Propane Nightmare is just a bit of a mess.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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JAY SEAN – MAYBE: Another hopelessly generic slice of R’n’B from Asian artist Jay Sean, which will undoubtedly go down a storm among the Kiss FM brigade. Vocally, Sean comes over all Usher mixed with Craig David, while the processed beats and soulful backdrop hint at a smooth groove sensibility. But it’s basically the sound of an artist on auto-pilot, pandering to the mainstream and not really offering anything different to what we’ve heard countless times before. Don’t be fooled by the slick packaging – it’s really not worth that much attention.
Rating: 1 out of 5
USHER & YOUNG JEEZY – LOVE IN THIS CLUB: It’s been four years since Usher’s last album, during which he got married, became a father and made his Broadway debut. But his US fans remained patient and loyal, helping comeback single Love In This Club to the number one spot with apparent ease. It’s surprising, because it’s a formulaic R&B offering that drops weary lover-man lyrics over a bump ‘n’ grind rhythm that are actually quite snooze inducing. Writer/producer Polow Da Don adds some space age synths, while Young Jeezy’s gruff rapping style arrives in stark contrast to Usher’s smooth flow, but that only kind of adds to the tedium and cheapens the overall impact. It’s not terrible, merely lazy and formulaic.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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KELLY ROWLAND feat TRAVIS MCCOY – DAYLIGHT: Following the Top 5 UK success of singles Like This and Work, Kelly Rowland returns with Daylight, another surefire chart-breaker from the successful album Ms Kelly Deluxe (due May 12). This one is notable for featuring a collaboration with Travis McCoy, the hip hit-maker behind new hip-hop favourites Gym Class Heroes. The result is a guilty pleasure of a listen: a sunshine slice of R’n’B/hip-pop that offers a nice vocal trade-off between the leads and some upbeat melodies. The slick back beat should easily guarantee widespread dancefloor appeal. Remixes of the song come from soul house supreme Joey Negro, of Jakatta fame. But it’s the original that offers the most fun. Kelly has clearly chosen well for a collaboration.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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A HUMAN – BLACK MOON: A Human bill themselves as a new breed. “Dirty, strange and slightly deranged”, they deliver electro-androgyny rock coupled with Shakespearean-esque storytelling – or so the PR blurb reports. Black Moon, the first single from the London six-piece, introduces you to singer Dave Human’s psycho-monologoues about women with knives for hands and men with deer heads. It’s odd, off kilter and not entirely convincing, fusing elements of Goth, 80s electronica and post-punk Strokes-ism (with a little Interpol thrown in). Sadly, it didn’t come together as well as it might for me and the ensuing electro-rock epic was more of a turn off than a turn on. Perhaps they’re an outfit to keep an eye on, rather than embracing immediately. I guess they’re going to have their work cut out, though.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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