Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, March 26
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: THE NEEDLES – GIRL I USED TO KNOW: Glasgow-based The Needles release one of the better tracks from their debut album In Search Of The Needles in the form of the three minute power-pop stomper Girl I Used To Know. The track boasts some cracking guitar work and a really, really catchy chorus that’s tailor-made for singing along with. They’ve already caught the attention of Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, who describes them as “a great, great band” and with Girl I Used To Know going down like a storm in indie circles (and Xfm), we reckon they may be about to make a really massive impact. Of the bonus tracks, Dead Or Alive is a remixed version of another album track, while all-new recording Only If You Want Me To is a tender effort that positively drips in cracking melodies and nice vocal layering. It also hints at a ‘60s influence that makes its guitar sound all the more alluring. Excellent stuff.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review l Watch the video
SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: CIRCUITS – PISTOLS AT DAWN: Try as hard as you like but there’s no getting away from the fact that Circuits sound like the musical offspring of The Police. Pistols At Dawn is a funky offering that’s dripping with nods to Sting and co, from the reggae and African influences of some of the guitar licks, to the catchiness of the choruses. Whether it’s timed just right to coincide with The Police revival (and to garner a support slot on some of the World Tour dates) or just sheer good timing is a moot point at this stage. But there’s no denying the endearing quality of the track that’s cheeky, catchy and downright enjoyable. It’s the sort of ‘80s revivalism that should be encouraged, rather than the more dance orientated pop pap that seems to be the main focal point for the charts.
Rating: 4 out of 5
FIELDS – CHARMING THE FLAMES (DOWNLOAD ONLY): The critically-acclaimed Fields release a new single, Charming The Flames on the chart-unfriendly digital vinyl format. The track is typical of what to expect from the band – slow building but beautifully melodic and dripping in fine guitar work and laidback, serene vocals. Come the rousing, guitar-driven finale, you’ll have been swept so far from its origins you may even think you’re listening to something completely different. So what does digital vinyl mean? The B side of the vinyl will be etched with a unique code that will be redeemable at the band’s webstore – fieldsband.com – in exchange for a choice of non album track B sides, either Cold Hearted Machinery (similarly beguiling) or When You Sleep (sweet and enchanting). Exclusive to independent stores,
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the single l Find out more about Fields l Watch the video
THE HOURS – LOVE YOU MORE (RECORD COLLECTION): Love You More is the new single from The Hours’ debut album Narcissus Road and it’s a brilliantly rousing follow up to Back When You Were Good. The song takes the form of a defiant romantic name check that’s packed with lyrics such as: “I love you more than my record collection… I love you more than Caravaggio… I love you more than Tony Soprano – for those that do not know me that’s a f**k of a lot!”. But it’s an uptempo combination of swirling piano loops, jagged guitar riffs and hand-clap drum beats that provide the setting for another rousing effort. It’s a love song that places human feeling above material possession and it’s utterly, utterly enchanting without ever coming close to being schmaltzy. The Hours are Antony Genn and Martin Slattery and their music is absolutely stunning – Narcissus Road is well worth adding to your record collection if you haven’t done so already.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review l Watch the video
THIRTEEN SENSES – ALL THE LOVE IN YOUR HANDS: Thirteen Senses release All The Love In Your Hands, the first single to be taken from their brand new studio album Contact, the keenly-anticipated follow up their gold-selling debut The Invitation. The long-player has once again been produced by long time Coldplay collaborator Danton Supple and is being billed as a more robust and more direct piece of work than their debut effort. Will’s soaring vocals remain intact, as well as the fine balance of piano and guitar melodies – but their sound has become more epic than wistful as they have matured. Lead single All The Love In Your Hands is a prime example of this development and finds the band delivering a finely crafted epic that contains an all-consuming emotional sweep.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
ARCADE FIRE – KEEP THE CAR RUNNING: Keep the Car Running is the first single to be taken from Arcade Fire’s Number 1 album Neon Bible and is being released on limited edition numbered vinyl backed with Broken Window. It’s typical of what to expect from the LP, displaying all of the trademarks of the Arcade Fire’s work to date – namely, an epic emotional sweep that’s reached after a slow-build of layered synths. It starts out as a deceptively simple tune but ends in an inspired crescendo that just keeps getting better the more you keep listening to it. It provides further compelling evidence of why Arcade Fire continue to attract such a mighty following and so much critical love.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
KINGS OF LEON – ON CALL: On Call announces the remarkable return of Kings Of Leon, the Nashville foursome who seem to be winning more and more friends with each new album. Taken from their forthcoming third album Because Of The Times, On Call is a haunting slice of rock that hints towards their musical experimentation and development since Aha Shake Heartbreak. The guitars are slower and more deliberate than usual while the chorus is a really striking affair, especially during the haunting “be there” section. It’s a shimmering piece of songwriting that certainly reflects the band’s willingness to keep moving forward and experiment with their signature sound. For that reason alone, it should be applauded.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO – UNDERSTAND (DOWNLOAD ONLY): YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO prepare for the release of their latest album They Came From The Sun with the download-only single Understand. It’s a rousing effort, driven by some crashing guitars, some chiming guitar loops and a vocal style that’s not far removed from Kasabian at their swaggering best. The echo effect brings out the best in the production values, which bode well for the remainder of the album (out April 2). Says bass player, Ross Harley: “Without doubt, They Came from The Sun represents a leap forward from the collision between over exuberance and experimentation that was Ignoto – a record we’re all really proud of. The new album is a more cohesive record and certainly leaner than its predecessor but at the same time we feel the vast enthusiasm we have for each other and our music is still evident on every track.” We can only wait with anticipation…
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Watch the video
MICHAEL ANDREWS – JUST A THOUGHT/ORANGE MEET LEMON: Michael Andrews is, of course, composer of the score for modern film classic Donnie Darko and producer, arrange and co-performer of its No.1 single Mad World (with Gary Jules). Just A Thought/Orange Meet Lemon marks his debut solo release and takes the form of a slightly trippy, low-key effort that combines the best elements of acts like Pink Floyd (the opening “hello”), Nilsson and Cat Stevens. Just A Thought is intricately layered to ensure that there’s plenty going on without ever threatening to undermine Andrews’ delicate vocal delivery. And the quirky Orange Meet Lemon is a whimsical slice of acoustic-balladry that eschews all the values of classic Simon & Garfunkel and Jose Gonzalez with some fine piano melodies thrown in. It’s strangely haunting, yet surreally beautiful. Expect it to find its way into Zack Braff’s record collection any day! Andrews’ debut album Hand On String is due for release on the We Love You label on April 23.
Rating: 4 out of 5
ROBYN – KONICHIWA BITCHES: Robyn is the pint-sized atom bomb dosed on electric and dispensing wisdom in three-minute modernist pop bulletins on the post-adolescent condition – or so claims her PR. Her latest album, Robyn is a collection of ultra-concise pop moments spearheaded by first single Konichiwa Bitches, a signature tune comprised of over pixellated hip-pop beats, finger-clicking backdrops and sassy observations. Vocally, Robyn unloads like a manga Missy Elliott but it’s a fun offering that bodes well for the approaching LP. Indeed, Konichiwa Bitches (great name) is overall a hip little performer that stands out from the likes of Lady Sovereign because of its basis in electronica – as well as its broader appeal (in our opinion).
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
PANIC! AT THE DISCO – BUILD GOD, THEN WE’LL TALK (DOWNLOAD ONLY): Las Vegas quartet Panic! At The Disco release a digital only single from their debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in the form of Build God, Then We’ll Talk. The digital format came about when the band decided on the treatment for the song as more of a side project, so becoming a low level release for the fans, while the boys go off to the studio to put pen to paper and record the second album. It’s farily typical of what to expect from the band – extravagant, melodic, quirky and loaded with artistic flourishes and tempo changes. Fans will lap it up until new material starts to appear; the sceptics may still wonder what the fuss is all about. Certainly,
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Album review l Watch the video
ALTERKICKS – GOOD LUCK: Alterkicks began 2007 with a headline tour, a date on the NME Awards Shows and a new single. Good Luck is a taster from the band’s debut album, recorded with Stephen Street at the close of 2006 and the start of the year. It’s a wayward piece of guitar pop that contains some sharp hooks, some foot-stomping basslines and a fairly catchy chorus. The vocal layering late on is also quite endearing, suggesting that the album could well be worth keeping an eye out for. The track is already getting some love from Xfm listeners and is a confident offering that suggests a bright future lies in wait…
Rating: 3 out of 5
HINDER – GET STONED: Upon listening to the opening moments of Hinder’s Get Stoned you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to the latest offering from Nickelback or Audioslave or somebody – it’s that kind of moody rock thing. But Hinder have become one of the few new US breakout stories of 2006, with Extreme Behaviour jumping to No.6 on the Billboard 200 in November. They’re comprised of Austin Winkler (vocals), Cody Hanson (drums), Mike Rodden (bass) and Joe ‘Blower’ Garvey and Mark King (guitars). Get Stoned isn’t a call to arms for the slacker generation but rather a meaningful lament about disfunctional relationships that’s driven by Winkler’s throaty vocals and some suitably powerful guitars. Like we said, Nickelback fans will lap it up.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO – THE BEAT: Not ones to be shy of their influences, Simian Mobile Disco release It’s the Beat, a track that attempts to bring Technotronic’s classic house effort Pump Up The Jam into the dark pit of Fabric’s main room where the pair – Jas Shaw and James Ford – began a residency this year. It’s a rude update that contains all the usual Simian Mobile Disco trademarks such as a smattering of acid, some electro and house/rock beats. Sadly, while it’ll certainly go down a storm as part of any residency set at Fabric, it’s a cold, clinical dance track that fails to ignite much excitement. This is one beat not really worth getting down with – and the presence of the Pump Up The Jam sample merely highlights that it’s nowhere near as good as the track that inspired it.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT – DART FOR MY SWEETHEART: South London R&D (rhythm and dada) combo, The Archie Bronson Outfit, re-release Dart For My Sweetheart, one of the choice cuts from their second album Derdang Derdang. Created during an intensive writing and recording spell in London and Nashville, the track is an edgy mix of strained vocals, gritty guitars and boy-girl vocal melodies that come together to create a genuinely effective chorus. “We felt we’d finished writing but because we were relaxed and excited about recording we kept on going,” explains drummer and lyricist, Arp. “Dart came together really quickly when we arrived in Nashville and we knew it was strong. There’s a nursery rhyme feel to the lyric, the counting stuff, though that’s disguising something darker. The simple stuff has often taken a complex route to get there.” Bonus track, In The Shadow of Love is a haunting, atmospheric slow-builder that features a quietly effective set of backing vocals from Liela Moss, complete with some nice blues guitar. Put together, the tracks are definitely worth checking out.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review
SIXNATIONSTATE – WHERE ARE YOU NOW?: SixNationState recorded their debut album in Latvia with Iain Gore, the man behind The Brakes, Larrikin Love and Babyshambles. Lead single Where Are You Now? is certainly reminiscent of Larrikin Love with its carnival rock vibe and shambolic undertones. The track is fuelled by some punk-influenced guitar riffs, plenty of vocal layering and all manner of “uh, oh, whoas”, as well as that supposedly endearing carnival vibe. But it irritates more than it impresses and doesn’t really ignite in the way that it’s supposed to. When they sing “it feels so right and it feels so wrong” you tend to veer towards the latter opinion.
Rating: 2 out of 5
LOVE IS ALL – NOTHING TO BE DONE: Love Is All are a Swedish act comprised of Josephine (vocals, keyboard), Nicholaus (vocals, guitar), Frederik (saxophone), Markus (drums) and Johan (bass) and they return to the UK with the release of Nothing To Be Done, a boisterous cover version of a track by C86ers The Pastels. It’s a blast of sawing guitars, squalling sax, thundering bass, brain bursting drums and echoed, thrashy boy-girl vocals. It begins brightly enough but threatens to blur into a messy wall of sound towards the end. Explains Josephine: “We chose the song simply because we loved it forever. Some people might say we’ve slaughtered a classic but it’s always hard to make a version of an already perfect pop song!” It’s a statement that gives rise to the suspicion that maybe she was right! Bonus track Ageing Had Never Been His Friend follows pretty much the same format and eventually gets on your nerves.
Rating: 2 out of 5
HELP SHE CAN’T SWIM – HOSPITAL DRAMA: Help She Can’t Swim formed in late 2003 while still at art college in Southampton. They’ve spent the past couple of years touring off the back of their debut album Fashionista Super Dance Troupe in 2004. Now they’re back with the adrenaline rush of a single that is Hospital Drama. Driven by super-charged synths, spiky guitars and emotive lyrics (“I lost my legs a year ago”), the track is a really in yer face anthem for the band that sends your head into a spin if played loud enough. It’s rousing stuff if it catches you in the right mood – emerging with the same sort of vibe that accompanied The Automatic’s Monster, albeit with a few more synths.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
THE MULES – WE’RE GOOD PEOPLE: The Mules are a London-based outfit who operate in an utterly bonkers electrobilly style. They’re comprised of Ed Seed (vocals, drums, harmonica), James Lesslie (bass), Tim Burke (piano, moog), Duncan Brown (guitar) and Nico Beedle (fiddle) and their latest album Save Your Face is an entirely shambolic affair. Current single We’re Good People is actually a rare offering in that it conforms to a more normal structure – but it’s still prone to quirky indulgences that charm and frustrate in equal measure. The guitars are angular in places, the vocals a little weird at others and some of the melodies absolutely nuts. But it’s slower building than most songs on the album and contains a quirkiness that prevents me from hating it completely. A remix version is also available that’s heavy on electronic flourishes and actually lots better!
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Order the album l Album review
MELANIE C – I WANT CANDY: Amidst even more Spice Girls reunion rumours, Melanie C returns with This Time, her fourth solo album, which includes this first single, a reinvigoration of the 1982 hit I Want Candy. The song combines Mel’s distinct vocals with poppy guitar chords and some guilty memories of the original pop hit. It’s still breezy enough but attempts to add to it with some extra production values don’t work as well as they should – and there’s no escaping the fact that the original still works far better. The song features in the film of the same name, starring Carmen Electra and Tom Riley.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l I Want Candy review l Interview with Candy/Carmen Electra l Photo gallery l Watch the video
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS – NO CHARADE: The Disappointments consist of Fox (vox/guitar), Knotty (bass), The Greek (guitar, vox) and Moston (drums) and they take their inspiration from heavy hitting bands such as The Damned. Needless to say, it’s relentless guitar chords, shouty, squeal-laden vocals, pounding, relentless drums and very little in the way of structure. The only thing you can take away from it is a very severe headache, making this digital only release something for the heaviest rock fans only. The track is lifted from the forthcoming debut album Reasons To Revolt which looks set to be similarly loud and obnoxious. But then what can you expect from a bunch of 17-year-olds? For once, the name of the band capably sums up the sound of what to expect, a crushing disappointment.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Heard a great single, but yet to buy it? Well, we may have reviewed it. Previous reviews:
Right Content
Related Links
- Music Home
- Music Archives
- A/V Room
- IndieLondon Gig Guide
- Singles of the Week
- Music Gallery