Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, August 4
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 1: NOAH AND THE WHALE – 5 YEARS TIME: As Noah And The Whale prepare to release their debut album, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down later this month, they now unveil one of the undoubted songs of the summer. 5 Years Time is an infectious slice of romantic folk that blends the simple narrative and direct lo-fi charm of anti-folk artists such as Jeffrey Lewis or Jonathan Richman with the classic pop of Buddy Holly. Opening with a whistle that’s certain to become every bit as infectious as that which propels Peter, Bjorn and John’s Young Folks, it then drops a lovely slice of acoustic guitar, before layering in the enchanting melodies, boy-girl vocals and generally sweeping you off your feet. If this is indicative of the quality of the rest of the album, then we’re in for a super-sized treat indeed! If you liked The Mystery Jets’ Young Love, featuring another perfect blend of boy and girl vocals, then this will leave you smitten.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: THE SHORTWAVE SET – NOW TIL ‘69: The second single from south London trio The Shortwave Set’s second album Replica Sun Machine is this infectious slice of swirling psychedelia known as Now Til ‘69. One of the undisputed highlights from the Danger Mouse produced LP, the song displays a yearning for the forever unobtainable that is distinctly indie in lyricism, yet defiantly pop in outlook. With Roxy-esque squelches, Spector-influenced drums and The Fifth Dimension on vocals, it’s the sort of song to get you swinging about the dancefloor while humming along to its uplifting central melody and chorus. Bonus track Petrol To The Flame is similarly engaging, demonstrating just what a keen ear The Shortwave Set have for a groovy, ‘60s influenced melody, and a feel-good, happy-go-lucky refrain. There’s even a smattering of remixes that are better than normal – with the French themed Mirwais version ramping up the electronica to compelling effect and an Aeroplane remix set to leave you soaring! Now, that’s just showing off.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU: Scouting For Girls re-release their early single It’s Not About You, which was first released in June 2007 as a limited edition EP. In that form it became the highest of its kind to chart in British history and set the tone for the top 3 chart hits that followed, She’s So Lovely, Elvis Aint Dead and Heartbeat. Needless to say, it’s very much a signature track, packed full of bouncing melodies, a catchy chorus and that infectious enthusiasm that has practically become synonymous with the Scouting For Girls name. It’ll probably waltz its way back into the UK Top 10 and underlines why they’re one of the most popular new young bands in Britain right now.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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SI PHILI – SUNSHINE: Once part of one of the UK’s hottest hip hop groups, Si Phili has started his solo career with the release of Sunshine. The result is a shimmering slice of summery hip-hop that takes its cues from the smooth vocal flow of artists like Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes and, to a lesser extent, John Legend. The beats are laidback, the melodies slick and the overall vibe combines classic New York hip-hop with an element of the more London-based grime of Roll Deep. It’s a good accompaniment for the sweaty weather we’ve been having of late, talking of heatwaves, “weather girls” and “pretty little sunshines”. Of course, the weather references are a metaphor for sexual activity but you can either take it as a cool new summer anthem, or a sweaty midnight piece of hip hop seduction. It works either way.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
G LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE – PEACE, LOVE & HAPPINESS: G. Love and Special Sauce’s Superhero Brother is their third album for Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label, and tenth overall (counting their 2002 best-of and last year’s live CD/DVD) in a career that now spans 15 years. It’s been a long, successful run for the Philadelphia native and self-described “hip-hop blues artist,” whose self-titled 1994 Okeh/Epic Records debut was certified Gold on the strength of the MTV hit, Cold Beverage, and a non-stop performing ethic that still has them playing more than 150 shows a year. As a taster of what to expect from the new LP, they now release the single Peace, Love & Happiness, a real good-time of a record that’s steeped in old-school blues-rock values. There’s certainly a Rolling Stones Sympathy For The Devil vibe running through some of the beats and guitars, which is red hot and unapologetically feelgood. Roll on the new album!
Rating: 4 out of 5
DAS POP – UNDERGROUND: Underground is the debut Ugly Truth single from Das Pop. Produced by acclaimed sonic alchemists Soulwax, it’s a hummable, danceable and pretty infectious offering that revels in its retro values (the foot-stomping beat is certainly evocative of early Motown, even if the later melodies are more pop cheesy). Three parts Belgian and one part Kiwi, Das Pop are Bent Van Looy (vocals), Niek Muel (bass), Reinhard Vanbergen (guitar) and Matt Eccles (drums) and, on the evidence of this latest offering, they appear to be quite a bright pop act – which bodes well for the forthcoming eponymous LP in October. Bent, Niek and Reinhard formed Das Pop whilst still at school in Ghent, with Bent doubling as the singer and drummer until the band recruited Matt (who previously hit skins for Liam Finn’s band Betchadupa) last year. Das Pop signed to Ugly Truth following a barnstorming appearance at 2007’s In The City conference in Manchester. So yes, I guess you could call them another hot new prospect for 2008 – just don’t get too carried away.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – EVENING/MORNING: Off the back of two critically acclaimed Eps, Bombay Bicycle Club return with new single Evening/Morning. Recorded by Jim Abiss, it’s a heavier and more urgent side to the band that opens with a precise, military-style drum roll and then adds some guitars that Bloc Party might be proud to call their own. There’s even a trace of Sonic Youth and Stone Roses in the riff work, while the vocals mix Placebo with Bloc Party. It’s urgent, energetic, in your face and designed to make you sit up and take notice of this promising new outfit. On the flip side, however, You Already Know nods towards the Appalachian folk the band have been listening to over the past six months. It’s a dusky, acoustic effort that offers a tender contrast to the power of the lead single. They’re definitely ones to watch as the debut album looms ever larger on our musical horizons.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
ANDY HUNTER – STARS: Techno master Andy Hunter releases Stars as the first single to emerge from his sophomore album. Featuring a guest vocal performance from Mark Underdown and some riffage that’s reminiscent of New Order (Blue Monday era) in places, it’s a pertinent reminder of what he’s capable of and should go down a storm on the summer club scene. A remix package by The Camel Rider, Guiseppe Ottaviani and Phonat got to No.6 on the MW Club Chart and looked set to go higher – but the original is the better of the versions and lays down an intriguing marker for what could lie in waiting for the rest of the album. If the PR is to be believed, it’s “a huge, expansive mix of hard-edged pumping techno workouts, classy electronic ballads and slinky electronic dub”. It also benefits from “a Balearic bliss that harks back to the sophisticated electro-pop of The Beloved, while the grandiose synth blasts of the storming introduction to the album are reminiscent of Vangelis’ work on Blade Runner”. That’s an awful lot to live up to, although the presence of Ultravox’s Midge Ure among the guest vocalists does add an element of interest.
Rating: 3 out of 5
THE FAFF – THAT’S A NICE GLOVE?: The debut single from The Faff , That’s A Nice Glove? is a lively blend of Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and We Are Scientists that – while by no means ground-breaking – lays down a possible marker for the future. Featuring synth-drenched guitars and a fiercely uptempo approach, it’s a consistently energetic offering that you’d well imagine succeeds in whipping crowds into a frenzy in live form. B-side Halves ‘n’ Halves ‘n’ Halves is more of the same, only with some more winding guitar riffs. It’s similarly OK – although they may need to toss the odd surprise into the mix if they want to avoid being pigeon-holed as “the next Arctic Monkeys” or “the next Klaxons”… if you know what we mean.
Rating: 3 out of 5
HISTORY OF GUNS – EMPTY EYES/BUT I’LL BE WAITING: History Of Guns new double A-side single Empty Eyes/But I’ll Be Waiting brings together a bewildering mix of punk, industrial, electronica, chaos, escapism, ambient, manic-depression, dance music, mysticism, sound effects, other worlds, progressive rock, altered states and self-destruction to create a real mess of a song. Some might call them inventive, but there’s a nagging sense of ADD in their inability to sit still; while vocally the gruff tones of the lead singer simply grate after a while. Attempts to mix his own sound up a bit by roaring midway through in a style that reflects John Lydon does him no favours either. Empty Eyes is the pick of the two, but that’s only faint praise. Both tracks are pretty awful.Empty Eyes / …But I’ll Be Waiting is, however, the first single to be taken from the band’s new album, Acedia, which reportedly finds them focusing on guitar-based music. It’s out now via Line Out Records/Code7 Distribution.
Rating: 1 out of 5
CASCADA – BECAUSE THE NIGHT: German Euro dance act Cascada – aka singer Natalie Horler and producers DJ Manian and Yanou – return off the back of the success of past hits Everytime We Touch and What Hurts The Most with a hideous cover of the Bruce Springsteen/Patti Smith classic Because The Night. Derivative, cheap and horrendously formulaic, this is just a lame excuse to take a well-known song and slap a big fat dance beat over the top. Horler gives it everything vocally, but is no match for the memory of Smith, while the processed beats are lifeless and very, very ordinary. It’ll be a super club smash, of course, but that’s par the course I suppose. Creatively, it’s devoid of anything original whatsoever.
Rating: 1 out of 5
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JAMES BLUNT – I REALLY WANT YOU: James Blunt is back with new single I Really Want You, released August 4 on Atlantic Records. Following on from previous singles 1973, Same Mistake and Carry Me Home, this is the fourth track to be taken from his multi-platinum selling album All The Lost Souls. Contrary to a lot of the songs on the latest LP, however, this single benefits [slightly!] from a more intricate song structure and some effective layering. Lyrically, it’s still downbeat and draws on global politics but it’s one of the more thought-provoking efforts on the album. Still, let’s not get carried away with too much faint praise!
Rating: 2 out of 5
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THE SEA – DON’T YOU WANT ME: No, it’s not a cover version of the Human League song, but a raw, loud slice of gutsy rock from The Sea. Don’t You Want Me is a ragged combination of traditional blues versus their guttural emphatic harmonies. It’s vaguely reminiscent of the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at their most foot-stomping, as well as influences such as The Stooges and The White Stripes, without ever coming near to the quality of any of those acts. There’s fire in the guitars, passion in the vocals, but something is missing. Maybe it’s the feeling that they’re over-reliant on imitating their heroes, rather than using that inspiration to craft something that genuinely stands out as different. The single is released digitally on August 4 and exclusively vias iTunes on 7” on August 11.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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