IndieLondon gleefully checks out the cream of the week’s singles.
EP OF THE WEEK: SOUTHERN – SOUTHERN EP: Belfast brother and sister duo Southern – aka Thom and Lucy Southern – release their eponymous EP and immediately impress by virtue of their striking guitar work. The four tracks contained within bring together the young pair’s shared admiration for crunching blues riffs and distinctive elements of folk music. Hence, harmonies and melodies play heavily over the course of the tracks, which were also penned by Thom and Lucy. Led by Shout It, a song harnessed by a mesmeric, looped guitar riff and a rollicking, catchy chorus, it then effortlessly careers into the next immediate highlight, World Don’t Shine, which could just be the EP’s outstanding moment. Once again, the guitar work is exemplary, while the sharp mix of boy-girl harmonies and brooding vocals lend it an immediacy and a sense of atmosphere that thrillingly combines those blues-rock and folk elements to create something really striking. Just Think About It slows down the tempo slightly but continues to impress (especially with another meaty central hook and a slick beat, not to mention a vocal that ever so slightly hints at Jack White), while Cool Kid rounds things off with one of the more pop moments – a slick, breezy guitar pop offering that drops a cool chorus and toe-tapping beats, as well as lush background harmonies from Lucy. Southern could well be an act to keep a sharp eye on in 2014.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 1: ARCTIC MONKEYS – ONE FOR THE ROAD: Arctic Monkeys’ AM was named best album of 2013 by the NME earlier this week and it’s easy to hear why on the evidence of tracks like this (we highly rate it too). A cracking single that underlines the more soulful sound of the current material, this is slick, catchy and effortlessly cool – and a complete departure from their early, more indie rock sound (evidence of a band maturing really nicely). A falsetto vocal accompanies the chorus, the guitars are more reined in and there’s a sexier sheen to proceedings. It’s almost like The Charlatans meeting ’70s era Rolling Stones (especially in the use of ‘woo hoos’) and it works a treat. The single comes backed with an exclusive B-side in the form of You’re So Dark.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER – HURRY HURRY: Serving in the US Navy as a real-life air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro sent home 4-track demos he had written and recorded during his deployment. With his enlistment up, Munro returned to hometown Boston and discovered an impressive number of fans, prompting the genesis of the aptly-named band Air Traffic Controller. Consisting of six band members and a multitude of instrumentation, Air Traffic Controller are about to introduce their quirky indie pop to the UK for the first time with the release of their infectious single Hurry Hurry, taken from their much acclaimed second album NORDO. The track offers up a tale that everyone can relate to, depicting the day-to-day rush through life, often forgetting what is really important. As Munro states in his fast-paced, autobiographical, storytelling lyrics reminiscent of the likes of Paul Simon and Cat Stevens: “I hurried when I should’ve been in the zone, I hurried my loved ones off the phone, I hurried through sex – I know I know, I hurried my quiet time alone.” You’ve got to admire the lyrical honesty – but you’ll definitely go bonkers for the sharp melodies, effortlessly catchy chorus and manic energy that sounds like a brilliant mix of They Might Be Giants and Matt and Kim. The NORDO album is due to land in the UK in early 2014 and it’s definitely one to put on your radar.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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ARCANE ROOTS – RESOLVE: Having won widespread acclaim for their Blood & Chemistry LP, Arcane Roots now re-release one of its highlights, Resolve. The track is a pile-driving rocker that showcases the confident, big sound they now boast. The guitars are arguably the most striking thing about the track, which mixes tempos between pared back verses and powerhouse choruses, intricately weaving those riffs around the quiet moments to intriguing effect before really coming over all heavy for the solos and chorus. Lead singer Andrew Groves belts things out for all his worth and adds to the empowering vibe. It’s one of the better hard rock tracks I’ve heard in recent times and it keeps growing on you, especially once that towering chorus hits you. Groves says of the song himself: “Resolve is about all of the guilt and conflict of emotions that come with finding your own happiness.”
Rating: 3 out of 5
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NIGHT BEDS – LOST SPRINGS: Night Beds return to the UK this December as part of a European tour alongside the release of new single Lost Springs, the third track to be taken from their critically acclaimed debut album, Country Sleep. A tender, stripped back slice of country soul, this slow builds gracefully amid intimate vocals, searching lyrics (“how are we going to live life on our own?”/”I don’t want to be this anymore”), stripped back acoustics and the odd string arrangement. It gradually builds momentum, ushering in layered vocals, to create something that is as enchanting and hopeful as it is yearning and bittersweet. Night Beds is the creation of 23-year-old Colorado Springs native Winston Yellen, who recently described Lost Springs as his favourite song to play from the album. It’s easy to see why – even though the lyrics deal with personal hardship, it’s one of the most gentle and beautiful songs you’re likely to hear on the subject.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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CRYSTAL FIGHTERS – LOVE NATURAL: London-based Spanish sextet Crystal Fighters deliver a seasonal shot of summer warmth in the form of new single, Love Natural, an ode to romance and joy if ever there was one. Built around euphoric vocals and upbeat African rhythm structures, not to mention a catchy guitar hook, this exists to make you feel good about yourself and contains an energy that is utterly infectious. If you don’t believe us then try listening to lyrics about climbing the highest mountain and looking down to the depths of the ocean to find evidence of the scope of this track’s passion. It’s taken from the current album, Cave Rave.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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JESSIE J – THUNDER: The third single from Jessie J’s latest album is Thunder, an almighty pop ballad that is overflowing with Jessie’s signature power-house vocal. A track about empowerment that builds to a genuinely emphatic chorus, this offers up a nice mix of slow-build verses and rip-roaring choruses that underline Jessie’s vocal range. She really becomes impassioned over that chorus, combining the feisty qualities of Pink with something a little more brooding/ethereal akin to Bat For Lashes. It could quite possibly be the besk track that Jessie J has put out this year.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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IN VIOLET – FIN: in violet return with the second single from their debut album opal, the fabulously epic fin. The single comes with their cover of Moderat’s Rusty Nails and a remix of fin by Czech electronica artist Daniel Cherney. For those not acquainted with in violet, they claim to inhabit a musical world that can only be described as post industrial, taking influence from Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle, yet at the same time sounding like neither. They attempt to seamlessly blend heavy guitars and delicate, disembodied vocals to produce stark, brutalist soundscapes. fin itself is a brooding slow-builder that’s high on atmospherics and a million miles removed from the Nine Inch Nails. If anything, it’s almost something that Sigur Ros or Arcade Fire might put out if they were to develop an industrial edge… the fragile, ethereal vocals providing a subtle focal point to an ever-expanding wall of sound (both electronic and guitar-based) that culminates in a heady crescendo of sound. It’s almost cinematic in scope… and tailor-made for that word, ‘epic’. Their cover version is awash with swishy electronic sounds but maintains a dark edge. It’s not quite as compelling as fin but is never less than interesting as it, again, takes its time to build.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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LIFELIKE – NIGHT PATROL: Following last year’s release of Don’t Stop featuring A-TRAK on Kitsuné, as well as Urban Sex with Tommi Bravo (Nurvous rec.) plus the really cool remixes for Daft Punk and The Presets, Lifelike now drops Night Patrol as his own latest single. A cool slice of electro-dance-pop that’s coated in both neon and, sometimes, kitsch values, this combines an ‘70s-meets-early-‘80s vibe with elements of Kavinsky, Tangerine Dream and, yes, Daft Punk. A police siren wails in and out of the early moments, signalling something dangerous contained within, while there’s a strong disco influence to get people dancing. It also has that late night driving vibe that lends it an extra edge – cool, sexy, dangerous and extremely dance-worthy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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FYNNJAN – THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS: Eleven-year-old Fynnjan Leach-Verhoeven, a schoolboy from Buckinghamshire who has Asperger’s Syndrome (a condition on the autism spectrum), has written and recorded Christmas single The Spirit of Christmas, with the support of his local school, Seer Green Primary, in order to raise money for charity and raise awareness of autism. In doing so, he hopes to become the youngest ever writer/performer to top the charts. But more so, Fynnjan simply wants to highlight issues around Asperger’s and autism and to raise money to help the National Autistic Society, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and special educational needs provision at his local primary, Seer Green School. Like many children with Asperger’s syndrome, Fynnjan was a socially awkward uncommunicative child. He shied away from group events, especially anything musical. Randomly, one day late last year, he wrote a melody. With the encouragement of his primary school music teacher, he added lyrics. Along with his school choir The Spirit of Christmas was performed at the annual school assembly where he sang the solo himself in front of hundreds of people. It was a jaw-dropping moment for his mother Su, who had never heard him sing. Fynnjan allowed his song to be recorded on the proviso that his school friends could join in, and that any money raised would go to help other children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. And to be fair, it’s an enchanting listen – the youthful vocals melting the heart and providing some festive cheer and a warm-hearted glow. I’m not usually one to endorse Christmas songs, but it’s hard not to get behind Fynnjan and wish him all the best (and a merry Christmas, of course). The Spirit of Christmas is available to download from iTunes or via Fynnjan’s website at www.fynnjan.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Website l Twitter l National Autistic Society website l Soundcloud link
CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN – PACIFIER: As the Arctic Monkeys move on and refine their sound into more soulful territory, the chasing pack continue to follow in their wake. Catfish & The Bottlemen are hotly-tipped to become one of 2014’s bigger breakthrough acts and new single Pacifier has already picked up support from the likes of Zane Lowe and Sara Cox. A follow-up to September’s Rango, this is big, brash and determined to be anthemic, especially once it reaches its epic, stadium-sized conclusion. imbued with the boisterous immediacy that has rapidly become Catfish’s calling card. Something of a wrong-foot on first listen, an elastic bass line and the uplift of teetering guitar breaks are belied by frontman Van McCann’s lyrical vein. Speaking about the track, McCann says: “A friend got me into all this kind of surfy, sun’s out, bras off music, so I wrote this after she gave me loads of stuff to listen to. We used to have stupid fights all the time about how I don’t really get affected by people around me dying, and she was the complete opposite. I wanted to kind of counteract the positivity of the music with the negativity of the lyrics, in an attempt to make it a kind of bi-polar see-saw.” It achieves all of what it sets out to.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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PEGGY SUE – IDLE: Peggy Sue reveal a new video for their new single Idle in anticipation of their forthcoming third studio album. Choir of Echoes is set for release on January 27, 2014 through Wichita Recordings. The striking vintage visuals of Peggy Sue’s found-footage collage finds a series of 1920s dancers moving in sync with the the sounds of this gripping track, making for a clip that’s captivating yet somewhat uncomfortable. The track itself combines insistent guitar hooks with melodic vocals to create something that’s both vaguely ethereal and strangely compelling. The finale, in which drum beats take over from the guitars and the vocals become more crisp and echoed, is particularly striking. We’re looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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JOSH TAERK – CASIE: Josh Taerk releases his new single Casie and it’s a shamelessly sentimental folk-pop song about falling in love. Speaking about the track Taerk explains:“It’s about that first love, that really innocent love, but also a love that we both knew could never be.” Josh’s melodic pop-rock is said to channel the spirit of classic songwriters such as Bruce Springsteen and Adam Duritz. But while melodically tight (courtesy of its guitars and strings), there’s something a little earnest about it – hence, while Taerk might be aiming for the classic heights of the likes of Springsteen or even Goo Goo Dolls balladry, it’s a little too soft rock to make too much of a lasting impression. Radio 2 or Magic FM listeners will probably embrace it… but that’s about it’s level.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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SUSAN BOYLE AND ELVIS PRESLEY – O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL: I don’t mean to sound Scrooge-like but what the hell???? Susan Boyle teams up with Elvis Presley for a Christmas song that’s as ghoulish as that collaboration sounds. Boyle delivers her section of the song in ultra-meaningful, painfully over-earnest fashion (complete with belated backing chorus), while Elvis – well – is Elvis in an old recording. It’s not even one of his best offerings, stripped as it is of the energy and life that the king of rock ‘n’ roll usually invests in his music. The worst thing about slating this is that it’s actually for a very good cause – Save The Children. But you’d actually pay more not to have to hear it, as this serves up a seasonal assault on the ear drums that really should never have seen the light of day. You could donate to the charity in other ways.
Rating: 1 out of 5
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