---

SINGLES: JANUARY 2010

NEON CIRCUS : “ Future Disco ” JACKET POCKET RECORDS 18.01.10 This new four track EP from Leicester electronic duo Neon Circus released on Jacket Pocket records (not jacket potato records as I had misread) treads the same path as the laconic yet danceable style of James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem. Lead track ‘Future Disco’ is a huge shiny floor filler, and is also included in two other remix guises - one of which sounds so much like LCD Soundsystem’s ‘On Repeat’ that it’s practically the same song. The other track ‘Carry The Weight’ is more of a blissed out groove, building through a few minutes of lascivious instrumental before some spoken word dirty talk adds to the sexual tension. This is a very promising release; which should appeal greatly to the indie-dance crossover market - apologies for sound like some sort of record company exec. www.myspace.com/neoncircusmusic Steve Claire

DETACHMENTS : “ Circles ” THISISNOTANEXIT Out now Is it conceivable that there are no original ways of making music left to explore? This band sound like numerous other bands around such as Editors and White Lies – who in turn sound like Interpol, who in turn were heavily influenced by Joy Division, where the original idea for this kind of doom-laden rock was first formulated some 30-odd years ago. And by the way, I do actually like this kind of stuff – but it is difficult to do with any semblance of originality. This is the band’s third single and lead track ‘Circles’ is a stabbing, jerky four minutes of icy post-punk misery, and cleverly titled back-up track ‘H.A.L.’ (or ‘Heard A Lie’) throbs along like a Cure b-side from 1982. So overall it’s kind of satisfactory but bound to induce a ‘heard it all before’ reaction. www.myspace.com/detachments Steve Claire

ISOLATED ATOMS : “ Tell Me What I Want ” WEEKENDER RECORDS 01.02.10 As if to firmly ram the point home the review for this single could just read ‘as above’ as another bunch of Joy Division copyists launch their assault on our senses. The press blurb name-checks none other than Peter Hook as a fan. The two tracks on offer are fairly indistinguishable from each other, and provide some basic ‘Goth-rock by numbers’ – anxious nasally vocals, driving bass, jarring guitar slashes and lyrics about paranoia and negative emotions. If you’re happy just to hear the same thing over and over again then dig in. If however, you feel starved of inventive, original material or pop music with new vibrant ideas then your hunger is set to continue unabated. www.myspace.com/isolatedatoms Steve Claire

REVENGINE : “ Plan Your Escape EP ” SELF RELEASED Out now Once again, Scandinavia spits outs another band that makes you wonder what they put in the water over there to churn out a seamless endless supplier of competent musicians, I guess Finniish TV is nothing to shout about. Revengine seem to be very schizophrenic when it comes to what genre they wish to fill as their sound moves freely between Rock and Metal. The EP starts with ‘Given It all’ complete with Maiden-esque air raid sirens with its roots rock sound and a touch of Mike Patton on the vocals. This is followed by ‘Treason’ which takes on a far more aggressive note with its harder rhythm section and darker lyrics. Just as you are coming to terms with the sound the band has chosen, ‘Live the Moment’ and takes a completely different turn with an initial melodic feel and slower pace. The range of influences continues on ‘Fear Me’ which it’s aggressive attitude, through the melodrama of ‘die for you’, finishing with an up tempo ‘Turn To Stone’. Revengine are as tight and capable as many higher profile groups I’ve come across and the fact they are releasing quality of this EP without any backing or support of a label or producer only make this release even more impressive. www.revengineband.com Simon Mulholland

MAEVEN : “ Girl In Blue ” LOCK JAW RECORDS Out now It’s a very short and sweet single release this one, only one track on offer is ‘Girl in Blue’ and first listen it reminds me little of the Cure Track ‘Burn’ from The Crow only with a female twist, Maeven being an all female three piece. It’s an upbeat track that takes its riffs and attitude from punk and is a good sign of things to come if other offerings are the same, a heady mix of female vocals, metal riffs and a whole lot of attitude. A short and sweet release deserves a short and sweet review, it’s good, really good! Job done on both counts. Simon Mulholland

LE RENO AMPS : “ The Stand Off EP ” DRIFT RECORDS 21.09.09 According to the press release accompanying this EP Scotland’s Le Reno Amps fuse an eclectic blend of Teenage Fanclub and Johnny Cash. Given that they are two of my favourite artists I listened with some expectation and no little trepidation. There’s a contrasting style between the four tracks on this EP - first two are a bit of a guitar chugathon – slightly comedy-country riff-heavy stompers, with witty drawled lyrics. The last two tracks take a more laid back approach – simple, floaty acoustic melodies and gruff yet sweet vocal harmonies. Although taken at face value this EP is good fun, ultimately they don’t have the great tunes to emulate the Fannies, or the level of gravitas that an artist like Johnny Cash can impart on an audience. Steve Claire

THE SAW DOCTORS : “ She Loves Me EP ” SHAMTOWN RECORDS Another bouncy slice of Irish folk-pop from the happiest band in the world, standing somewhere between The Levellers, The Ramones and a travelling showband. Hard to disagree with the sentiment that “wouldn’t life be such a bore, if we really knew for sure”. Nothing remarkable, yet full of a natural goodheartedness, though subjected to some strange phasing effects in production. Somewhere, on the band’s eternal tour, an audience is waving their arms and singing along, pints held aloft as Davy and Leo sing….. Some Hope – a tale of waiting for a call from a girlfriend veers a bit close to comedy, yet is made perfectly for live shows, where the band excel. A demo version of Lucky Boy rounds up the package – another punk-pop tinged bouncer. A video for a previous hit – About You Now is tagged on too. Look for this band on tour and get down there. The band is good, whether you know the songs or not but the star is the audience – the best natured audience you’ll meet in this country, ready to party with no pretension or aggro. Ross McGibbon

PAALMER : “ Old School ” FM MANAGEMENT 28.9.09 This EP has hidden powers. How, you ask? Well, when I got home from work my 7 year old daughter and friend were listening to some god awful pop compilation (Yes, I did buy it for her, pester power is remorseless) on a nasty little karaoke machine with feedback that could shatter fillings. So I thought I’d shock them by giving them a taste of Old School, expecting the usual disdain that comes with the ‘Aw Dad’ but to my surprise they preceded to pogo and air guitar around the living room for the next 10 minutes, maybe there is salvation for today’s Youff. The band in question are Paalmer, a no nonsense three chord, three minute track , French punk band and the EP’s title couldn’t be more suited. For an recording that doesn’t attempt to break any new ground, it remarkably refreshing and even when the lyrics on ‘Sleep With You’ lose something in translation, this just adds to the appeal. The four tracks rattle though at a blistering pace and the whole disc is over in less than 10 minutes. With titles like ‘Punkrocker’, ‘I Believe’, the aforementioned ‘Sleep With You’ and the tribute ‘Ramones Fever’ it delivers nothing but endless frenetic attitude during its short existence. It’s been a while since the Anarchists has been displayed on an album cover and Paalmer rightly deserve the honour in all its punk glory. Simon Mulholland

CHEMICAL WIRE : “ Bees EP ” TBA 28.9.09 Smoothly riding at the outset, this trio play power-pop that, unfortunately flips into harder riffs mere seconds in. They seem a bit unclear as to where their music fits, making it hard to settle into a riff. The press release drops hints that they’d like to be seen as co-travellers with At The Drive In and The Pixies but both those bands are / were more monomaniacal. Chemical Wire seem to flip between genres – which I’d often laud but here, they just sound like they’re doing it for effect and can’t settle. The second track is more intense and fraught, sticking more to its guns and winning more attention. It switches between tight jerks and brief respites for a soaring chorus but leaving the whole wound up tight and full of restlessness. If they have more like that, they’ll be worth checking out when they tour the UK in spring. Chemical Wire come from Portugal and their appeal lies not a million miles from Biffy Clyro. Their sleeve has to come in for special mention – it is like a piece of limited edition art and might well be made out of a real bit of a chest X-Ray. Just don’t ask how they got them…….. Ross McGibbon

DINOSAUR JR : “ Pieces ” PIAS 21.9.09 Oh, yeah. Off the comeback album, Dinosaur Jr. are on a Neil Young trip this time, distorting the guitar and adding little two-note squeaks to the end of each line. That laconic alt.rock vocalese drifts behind, leaving the guitar attack as the main feature. A jittering solo will please the fans of air guitar, whilst the crunching effect of the whole will satisfy those with happy memories of the Dinos. Hey, copying Neil got Pearl Jam an album and some kudos. Ross McGibbon

CHICKENHAWK : “ A. Or Not? ” BREW RECORDS 9.9.09 For about 5 seconds this sounds like The Mars Volta. For about 5 seconds, that’s all. Then it is twenty times as loud and slightly dafter. Classic metal riffs are deployed to a deranged end, accompanying screams and drowned vocals with shards of fractured guitar lead poking out the top. It felt like I had dropped something heavy on my toe. Produced by Jason Sanderson, who has worked with the mighty Rolo Tomassi, this is as close to prog as the aforementioned volume-monkeys; i.e. not very close, just very wigged and out and sometimes twiddly. Confusion is the wave of the future and noise is the sound of Leeds this year. Alongside Pulled Apart By Horse, Castrovalva, and the seminal Bilge Pump, Chickenhawk are forcing a new and bewildering path in the Leeds music scene. Ross McGibbon

MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK : “ Departure EP ” END GAME 7.9.09 Music to sink into. All pounding drums and yearning vocals, pulling us up close to the lyrics so we can be told “I feel your kiss”. Do you, fella, do you? You’re winning me over….. Be still, my beating heart…… Motion Picture Soundtrack are making stadium rock – a bit of everything to please the masses. Only the masses ain’t here yet. Give ‘em time, they’re on their way. Drums – big and deep; melodies – slightly sad, slightly hopeful; vocals – keening and rising in purposefulness; lyrics - vague enough to mean anything to anyone but focussing on seeking and hoping. It’s a formula that’s worked for plenty and MPS have everything the others had (and they aren’t whining gets like Coldplay…..). (Stop banging on about how much you hate Coldplay. Ed.) Ross McGibbon

MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK : “ Departure EP ” END GAME 7.9.09 There are stacks of this sort of stuff about – intense, anthemic taking-itself-slightly-too-seriously indie rock. Now I like that kind of stuff personally, but it can be tricky to wheedle out the good stuff from the derivative. The stuff that has good songs at the core, bands that actually have some personality, and bands who really do believe in what they’re doing rather peddling doom-laden indie theatrics because a record exec thinks that sells well at the moment. The band’s name is perfectly selected to enhance the cinematic scope of the music. Crashing drums, distorted, driving guitar and front man Alastair Blackwood’s soaring melodies create a brooding intensity similar to that of the criminally underrated Puressence. This EP acts as a very promising 3 track sampler for this Canterbury four-piece’s upcoming debut album ‘The Shapes We Fear Are of Our Own’ due out this autumn. This kind of music does work better when it has chance to build over the course of an album, so I for one will be interested to hear more. Steve Claire

JOHN MCKEOWN : “ Fade Away ” BEATROUTE RECORDS 31.8.09 A soulful offering from McKeown, who appears to be making a living from battling adversity and coming out the other end steeped in thoughtful reflection. Apparently speaking to his own despair, the track takes a few listens to get into, but will ultimately leave you considering its message. Has the potential to be the next “Blower’s Daughter”, and may well start popping up at weddings and functions all over the land for those slow dances at the end. Easily on course to becoming the next Damien Rice. Simon Middleyard

PYTHIA : “ Sarah (Bury Her) ” GOLDEN AXE RECORDS 24.8.09 Dearie me. Dearie dearie me. Did the eighties and nineties never happen? This takes the sword and fantasy type nonsense of the early seventies and brings it up to date with chuntering big goth metal easy tempo stylings. All romantic like, Emily Alice Ovenden sings of a lost love she can never best because, well, how can you beat someone whose image is perfected by death. It’d be a heartbreaking theme it it weren’t SO BLEEDING OBVIOUS and allied with music so hackneyed (albeit well played). For travellers who’d like a glimpse into an alternate universe where tastes are, ahem, different. Ross McGibbon

VELVET STAR : “ Dirty Girl ” VELVET STAR 17.8.09 The promo was rather lovely – an all black CD, mocked up as vinyl. The opening riff was fine too and the rolling bass underneath had some class. The whole had a glam rock meets punk sound and a shine to the energy that is commendable. The vocalist has that slightly closed nasal quality of the classic rock vocalist posing as trash. The only thing letting them down is the sadly outdated lyrics. Guys, that kind of stuff was tired and dated in the seventies. Harness that energy to some better material and you’ll be an attractive package. Nothing new, mind, but energy and attitude’ll get you far. Ross McGibbon

PITCHBLEND : “ Celcius ” SUGARSHACK RECORDS 17.8.09 Soaring slowdive tunes and shimmering shoegaze guitars over a steadily mounting rock juggernaut beat – that’s one of my definitions of heaven. That’s why Pitchblend are a band I rate very highly. They step up and fill the shoes of My Vitriol whilst promising to fulfil the promise that the former failed to build on. The sound is portenteous, moody and hypnotic. It’s all a big climax, building to a bigger climax and is full of cathedral echoes, sadness, hope and grandeur. Ross McGibbon

GLISS : “ Morning Light ” CORDLESS / RYKODISC 3.8.09 How did we miss this one? A monster size pile up of shoe-gaze distorto guitar and Jesus And Mary Chain-type melody. The floating, half-buried vocals are on a par with Asobi Seksu and the nagging guitar figure has me pulling faces. It’s as light as Goldfrapp’s last feathery album and as heavy as My Bloody Valentine, whilst remaining as cool as a polar bear in sunglasses. Pile on the reverb, folks. Ross McGibbon

HUMANZI : “ Bass Balls ” KICK IN THE EYE / NOISEBOX / TUNECORE 3.8.09 Last heard of doing a credible impersonation of alientated and angular early eighties Gang Of Four followers, Humanzi are whacking out an amphetemine rampage across rock and roll, like Alan Vega’s Suicide being played by a gang with sulphate running neat through their veins. The singer declaims in an empty room while someone clangs industrial metalware. An incessant fuzztone guitar leads a frenzied rush of strangeness and fury. It’s all good stuff…. The second track is even stranger. Rinky-tink fairground / circus instrumentation is applied to fuzzy bass and creates a song ostensibly lyrically inviting but deeply menacing. I was very fond of Humanzi’s retro stylings but, with this release, the band have come into their own full grown maturity. Without losing the attitude. Seriously, icons like the Velvets would not be ashamed of something as “other” and yet as dirty as this. Ross McGibbon

THE ETTES : “ Danger Is EP ” CORDLESS / RYKODISC 13.7.09 “Hey there, you’re a man. So you know everything” sing the sarcastic Ettes with attitude. It’s a proper little-girl-rock-and-roll voice accompanied by bare bass and drums. But what a bass! It’s like Seven Nation Army turned up louder. This three piece – 2 lasses and a lad are messed up garage rockers, making it loud and crude with a lot of heart. Track two is a sixties girl group pop tune….. taken out for a walk and bludgeoned till it fitted into a punk mould. There’s even a call and response chorus. I just love the way you can hear the guitar clipping in your ear – no Pro Tools here. Best name for a band in a long while. This channels the spirit and energy of The Cramps and is, if anything, even rawer. The noise is crude and in your face – desperately real. The live tracks are scarcely much rougher than the studio recordings and that’s high praise for the studio tracks – this music bleeds, hurts, stage-dives, spits in your face then turns on a sassy heel and wiggles. Ross McGibbon

COSMO JARVIS : “ Chapter 2 ” WALL OF SOUND 31.05.09 Cosmo Jarvis is a young multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who at the tender of just 19 has already written some 250 songs – mostly in his bedroom. This new EP has 3 of those songs plus a video – I forgot to mention he does his own videos as well. His style seems to be an amalgamation of Jamie T’s street-wise yet middle class white-boy rap and Daniel Johnston’s child-like simplistic innocence. Some of the lyrics are hilarious – lead tracks ‘Mel’s Song’ features the couplet ‘my duvet smells/but so would you/if you hadn’t washed/in as long as I haven’t’ – and I had to censor myself from quoting the next bit as it’s a family website. Despite the homemade feel the track also has a gloriously catchy chorus. The other two tracks have more of a downbeat disposition and are therefore not quite as immediate; but still have a certain naive charm. Steve Claire

PSEUDO NIPPON : “ Edamame Freakout EP ” ONE INCH BADGE 23.3.09 Many press releases deliriously proclaim the artist as the next greatest thing to hit the airwaves. This one is just hilariously delirious in general, as its complete gibberish. Example quote – ‘music is of hi kick and utter super joy for enter ears’ I’m assuming it’s just a bad translation from the original Japanese, but if that’s what it’s meant to say then I’ll have some of whatever Mr. Nippon’s press people are on. The music is even more utterly bonkers – all manic beeps, bashes, loops and bloops created using toy keyboards, and frenetic vocals in broken English. You can’t deny the insanely joyous enthusiasm on show, but it’s just a bit too mad for me. Steve Claire

SONS OF NOEL AND ADRIAN : “ Rivers EP ” ONE INCH BADGE 7.09 Hot on the heels of their critically lauded debut album comes this 3 track EP from Brighton based 12 piece folk collective Sons of Noel and Adrian. The intro to lead track ‘Black Side of The River’ is drenched in mournful strings before giving way to tenderly picked at acoustic guitar and vocals which are sombre and downbeat. The other two cuts ‘Big, Bad, Bold’ and ‘Leaving Mary’s Hand’ both follow a similar outline – desolate, delicate sounds which evoke the hypnotic melancholia of last year’s flavours of the moment Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. Not exactly a laugh a minute but great if you enjoy a good wallow. Steve Claire

COLOUR : “ Unicorns ” SELF RELEASED 27.04.09 This debut single from the exceedingly blandly named Colour is promoted as being part of the genre that has come to be known as ‘Math Rock’. There are some traits of that particular brand of indie – the title track has angular yet funky guitars, awkward time signatures, male vocals at the higher end of the scale and quirky lyrics. ‘Run Like You’re Being Chased’ is another chunk of similarly oddly structured yet forceful pop-punk, and final track ‘Jewels Like Fairy Lights’ is a bit less brash and more of a slow-burner. But overall this release left me somewhat underwhelmed – ultimately it’s just relatively inoffensive youthful indie-pop. I never did find maths very exciting. Steve Claire

STONE GODS : “ Start Of Something ” INTEGRAL / PIAS RECORDS 23.3.09 It may be kicking a band when it’s down and out but I never liked ‘The Darkness’. It wasn’t their music, it was the disappointment that ‘A Thing Called Love’ caused. Let me explain, for the first 1/3 of a second of the intro, it sounds like Zodiac Mindwarp’s ‘Prime Mover’ and it raised my hope that the selected radio station was finally coming round to my twisted musical way of thinking, only for a completely different song to crash my expectation. So we come to the ‘Stone Gods’, one of the two bands to rise from the ashes of ‘The Darkness’. Their album ‘Silver Spoons And Broken Bones’ is a revelation. A really fine rock album that possibly shows the world (me included) it missed a deeper meaning to ‘The Darkness’s’ previous efforts or how a larger than live personality as a front man can drive a band down a musical blind alley, who knows? ‘Start Of Something’ is taken off their debut album and readdresses the balance firmly back in the bands favour, detailing optimism for what’s ahead. The opening bars remind me very much of Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down’ and the song’s message is cut from the same vein. It’s a very worthy single and will, I’m sure, increase the bands exposure and shows their desire to look firmly into the future and not rest on past glories. The remaining three songs on the single release are all acoustic and show a lighter side to the band, especially with their tongues firmly in their cheeks with the song ‘Don’t Drink The Water’. I prefer the full version, but their ability to pull off an incredibly cheesy track like this both electrically and acoustically is a talent to be admired. ‘Things Could Be Worse’ and ‘Where You Comin’ From’ are also very credible efforts acoustically and recorded complete with spontaneous adlib on the final track that provides the listener with an insight into a band at ease with itself and its ability but not taking life too seriously. Stone Gods have been touring the UK relentlessly over the last couple of years in the esteemed company of bands such as Airbourne and Black Stone Cherry and they deserve their place in this group of aspiring bands flying the flag for decent rock music. If you’ve missed them on their recent UK tour, keep an eye on the Stone Gods because I get the feeling that fame will definitely strike twice. Simon Mulholland

DETROIT SOCIAL CLUB : “ Sunshine People ” FICTION 30/3/09 David Burn sees himself as a soul missionary, delving into a trance-like groove in live performance. Repeating “wash the rain right over me” over and over on top of a crunching hard-rock riff, this becomes a soul record in its incessant swing and spiritually altering intent. RMcG

OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT : “ The Girl From The BBC ” FULL TIME HOBBY 16/3/09 With a slight nod to Placebo, Official Secrets Act’s second single is infectious and catchy, with the refrain “I like her, she likes me” repeated over again, giving the impression of growing desperation. The band’s electronic nuances are toned down for this offering, but the harmonics are still evident in the background. A catchy number, worthy of nationwide success. B-Side “Something That You Want” is more of the same, playing on the band’s Indie-r side but leaning more towards the Rolling Stones. SM

BRAKES : “ Hey Hey ” FAT CAT RECORDS 2.3.09 The first single from Brakes’ third album is also their best. Combining catchy and ludicrous lyrics (“Hey! Hey! It’s a cartwheel day / better grab it quick before it rolls away”) you can’t help but sing along to it! With grungy guitars taking the front of the track’s sound, I found myself walking around humming the refrain after hearing it just once! The B-Sides accompanying the single are the 5 second “Consumer, Producer, A Chicken or An Egg” and “Set A Course”, which highlights the band’s lighter side and is actually better than several of the tracks on their new album. SM

TUNNG : “ Bullets ” FULL TIME HOBBY 15/10/07 Tunng are renowned for the use of strange instruments in their music – “Bullets” is no exception. The sounds of typewriter keys and tin whistles overlay the gentle piano melody, accompanied by the silken vocals of Tunng frontman, Sam Gender. This is a twisted song, to say the least. It may sound soothing and gentle, but there's a hidden underlay of something eerie in this strange song. Well worth a listen, and a great song to stride down a street to with a definite sense of purpose. KH

ROBOTS IN DISGUISE : “ The Sex Has Made Me Stupid ” INFECTED 15/10/07 Singalong, dancealong, ravealong, this piece of infectious electro-pop has it all. This single, taken from Robots In Disguise’ third album, “We’re In The Music Biz”, is absolutely insane. The lyrics are insane, the hooks are insane and you’re insane if you don’t catch on. “The Sex Has Made Me Stupid” is a mix of melodic hooks, dance beats and irresistibly easy to learn lyrics. It may get a little repetitive if you listen to all the many, many remixes found on the single, but the original product will have you up and dancing in no time. KH

THE DELTA FIASCO : “ Paperhouse ” SMOKE AND MIRRORS 15/10/07 “Paperhouse” is the debut single of electro indie trio The Delta Fiasco. Well-used synth effects, drumbeats and vocals intertwine to create a great example of original musical talent. Lyrically, it references children’s bedtime stories in a rather disturbing manner, such as the choral line of “She’ll huff, she’ll puff, she’ll blow your house down.” The chorus is extremely catchy and counteracts the rather bland verses. The vocals of Nathan Walczak are intense and simply, quite heart felt. It’s a good listen, but the endless “alternate versions” and remixes on the single are desperately unnecessary. KH

MARK RONSON FEAT. AMY WINEHOUSE : “ Valerie ” COLUMBIA RECORDS 15/10/07 The third song to be taken from Mark Ronson’s LP “Version”, “Valerie” is a bold revival of the renowned Zutons track. With a catchy, syncopated rhythm, this is yet another modern and re-energised single that will fill the dance floors in no time at all. Amy Winehouse’s additional vocals on the first version on the single are powerful and wholly appropriate for the style to which the song has been moulded. It’s a brilliant cover, but its lacking originality and that leaves it with a sad sense of “this has been done before”. KH

THE HOLLOWAYS : “ Two Left Feet 07 ” TVT RECORDS 24/09/07 “Two Left Feet 07” is a re release of The Holloways’ debut single, enlivened by fiddles and a harmonica. Surprisingly enough, even with its country music feel, its lively and melodic and a great song to tap your feet along to. It’s honest and it’s happy, with sunny lyrics and catchy musical phrases that will stick in your head for longer than you want them to and reappear at the most inopportune moments. Its dual vocals add an irresistible sing along aspect and undoubtedly, although overlooked at its original time of release, “Two Left Feet” is an infectious gem among The Holloways’ other songs. KH

Darkwater : “ 1920 ” UP NEXT RECORDS 27/8/07 New single by Scottish electro-rock band Darkwater is released on 27th August on Up Next Records. Female fronted rock, making their mark in Scotland, this is their second single and it’s ok. Turn up your bass and give it a blast. The music is honest rock. Lead singer Lora has a strong voice but nothing that different. I would struggle to tell her voice apart from others in the same kind of musical genre. Scott Ian, guitarist of Anthrax, mixed this and quotes “I get approached all the time to work with bands and 99% of the time I have to pass because I’ve heard it all before. Darkwater have a sound wholly their own and that originality is what attracted me to them”. Personally I fail to see anything that different here. AMcG

Maximo Park : “ Girls Who Play Guitars ” WARP RECORDS Although not as good as other tracks previously served up by the Teeside troupe, the usual quirky pop sensibilities render this latest track at least a seven. Idiosyncratic vocals layered some excitable guitars add up to a slice of frolicsome fun that well explains why the band were such a hit at this summers festivals. Proof that radio-friendly doesn’t have to mean bland. HT

The Zico Chain : “ Anaemia ” HASSLE RECORDS 13/8/07 This is good! A combination of the raw vocals of the likes of Dave Grohl ( Foo Fighters) and the musical skills of the of The White Stripes. It’s powerful and kicks a mean bassline. It’s worthy of some hard rocking and won’t disappoint even the hardest of rockers out there. AMcG

Operator Please : “ Just A Song About Ping Pong ” BRILLE RECORDS The debut single of Aussie pop punk newbies Operator Please is a blistering pop track that points a finger at the dance floor and yells ‘GO!’ And boy do you want to. It’s a mite silly, and could well suffer for over-exposure – but it’s enormous fun and full of an exuberance you just can’t fake. HT

Envelopes : “ Life on the Beach ” BRILLE RECORDS 6/8/07 This started off okay, I was thinking ummmm nice bass nice sound, then the vocals kick in. It’s monotonous and if this really is a taster of their forthcoming LP Here Comes The Wind, I for one will not be going out to buy it. Henrik Orrling on vocals sums it up in the middle of the track “It’s so annoying” he sings; yep you just about hit the nail on the head there! AMcG

Hanoi Rocks : “ Fashion ” DEMOLITION 30/07/07 Hanoi Rocks are back! The second-best band from Finland (Lordi obviously being the best) return with a new line up and a not new sound. In fact, the sound is so not new that this could be any number of poodle-haired glam rockers from the bad old days (Warrant/Poison/Motley Crue, etc). The song seems to be an ode to jumble sales, and is fine if you like that sort of thing. Avoid like the plague if you don’t. www.hanoirocks.info ID

Interpol : “ The Heinrich Maneuver ” “How are things on the west coast?” sings a sneering Paul Banks on the first single from new album “Our Love To Admire”. It’s an upbeat offering with a killer guitar hook and cutting vocals that demand attention. While it’s obvious that this has been thought out more carefully and more heavily produced than their previous offerings, the style is very now… Highly recommended. SM

Crowded House : “ Don’t Stop Now ” EMI 25.6.07 A new single from the re-united Crowded House, and it’s full of heavyweights of the 80’s british music scene (produced by Steve Lillywhite, guitars by Johnny Marr). However, even such luminaries cannot avoid the track falling into MOR hell. And it hasn’t even got the catchy-ish chorus of other CH tunes. Even Radio Two’s playlist will be too cutting edge for this. www.crowdedhouse.com ID

Zico Chain : “ Anaemia ” 23.7.07 With a guitar hook designed to make you head bang until your neck breaks, “Anaemia” is a catchy offering from the New Monsters Of Britrock, whipped up tight and constantly on the edge. The chorus is all shout-along lyricism and the beat is enough to transform any crowd into a sea of bouncing sweat monsters. With hints of early Bush and Rage Against The Machine, it’s easy to see why the band are getting noticed. SM

The Go! Team : “ Grip Like A Vice ” MEMPHIS INDUSTIRES 16.7.07 The Go! Team return with the first single to be pulled from their new as-yet-untitled album. A wild departure from their 2004 Mercury Prize nominated debut “Thunder Lightning Strike” this is not. You get your usual fusion of rap, guitars, undecipherable lyrics and electro beats, which, as usual sounds awful on paper but pretty damn fine on record. The CD proper (as opposed to the 1-track promo given out for review) includes a cover of Sonic Youth’s Bull In The Heather, which should be worth a listen. www.thegoteam.co.uk ID

The Envy Corps : “ Wires & Wool ” Classic Indie. Oh, how I love to write those words! The second single from The Envy Corps’ debut album, “Dwell” is a delicious slice of Indie, chock-full of jangly guitars, catchy hooks and served with a side order of, smiley bounciness. Guaranteed to brighten any day, this is the perfect track to relaxing in the sun (in between showers) and chilling out with a frosty one. SM

Arcade Fire : “ No Cars Go ” SONOVOX 23/07/07 The third single to be released from “Neon Bible”, and it is a killer. Easily the best track on the album, this is an epic, lush, anthemic soundscape, that will get into your brain and you will be humming it for weeks. You probably have sung along to this at a festival or two this summer, but if you haven’t, expect it blasting out from an arena near you this autumn. www.arcadefire.com ID

My Vitriol : “ A Pyrrhic Victory ” XTRA MILE RECORDINGS 25.6.07 I’ve been missing and mourning the pretentiously wonderful My Vitriol since their early disappearance. Full of their trademark swooping rise and fall and doomy grandeur, this is a welcome and mysterious return. Putting out a grand album that went nowhere, reissuing it with a new mix for America (ala The Clash with Give ‘Em Enough Rope) and topping it off with some lovely polished live shows, My Vitriol appreared to have given up. Three years later people talk of the band as lost landmarks and the album as a classic and the time seems right to relaunch their career. The sound on the opening War Of The Worlds is a little heavier than before but no-one could fail to recognise them. Things stop / start and a voice reaches out from the mix, partially submerged, surrounded by drums and rising guitars. Lord Knows How I’ve Tried isn’t a blues or gospel as you might have expected, featuring crunchy samples it rises to a sad and lost lament. Toy Soldiers has a go at the Martika hit! It comes over much as you’d expect – a My Vitriol song that has you going, “where do I know this from?” The electro remix of the title track is quite acceptable and drives forward on a sequencer pattern, just not as great as the sweeping rock they do so well. Welcome back lads, what kept you? www.myvitriol.com RMcG

wholeskymonitor : “ harehills chapeltown ” FIREBOMB RADIO RECORDS 25.6.07 Leeds’ landmark session musician John Parkes features in this preview of the album, the lovingly titled ‘Bland Bland Bland’. He’s been in some of Leeds seminal bands of the last twenty years. Contrariwise, it’s very loud and in-yer-face – rather like the neighbourhoods en-songed. Singing ‘last circle in hell’ at the top of your voice isn’t going to endear you to the inhabitants though…… In the spirit of The Wedding Present, The Sinister Cleaners and the various combos that have straddled the eighties indie to noughties divide, wholeskymonitor combine social comment and angular riffs. These have a bit more elbow muscle than those of the past and the whole thing is quite menacing . John’s music career kicked off in the decade that saw three full scale riots in Chapeltown and maybe here he wants to trigger a few more. The other two songs on the EP are big slabs of beaty rock too. www.wholeskymonitor.co.uk RMcG

larsen b : “ the treasured memories of cecil element ” A wee bit of pretension might not hurt. Named after an Antarctic ice shelf featured in Al Gore’s documentary, the band have named their self-produced debut EP for a favoured local rector and played it on banjo, ukulele, gu zheng etc. They can’t be accused of stretching things, fitting six songs into less than a quarter hour. Red Indians And Witches is a country-tinged stroll through pastoral imagery and quiet reflection. Atlantis is a gentle, ukulele-plucked and chorus-hymned offering of love. Wonderland is gently fiddling stuff on the acoustic guitar while Old Rope is a pop tune with a big, swinging chorus, played softly. Pollen is a song of regret, soft and finger-picked on a metal stringed acoustic guitar. Pirouette lasts for seconds and is nothing but a piano figure. It’s a very English affair, a country garden of a record, laying around over a lazy summer. It’s a pastoral vision, a tradition of slightly eccentric chaps in white linen. In it’s favour, I’d add that unlike most of the records that arrive here it can’t be compared and doesn’t sound quite like anything else you’ve heard. http://www.myspace.com/wearelarsenb RMcG

Assembly Now : “ Graphs, Maps & Trees / Calculate ” KIDS 6.8.07 We’ve been admiring this band for a while now. An example of what independent pop should be. Clever ideas, slice of life stuff, quirky observation and clean cut tunes and rhythms. Both songs articulate what Assembly Now are about – stuff that doesn’t waste your time – peerless pop melodies and drifting sentiments expressed without a wasted note. For the last six months or so Assembly Now have had all the golden promise and present of the young Razorlight. One to play again and again till your teeth rot. www.assemblynow.com RMcG

Jakobinarina : “ This Is An Advertisement ” EMI 23.7.07 Jakobinarina look like a fusion of two of The Three Stooges and The Ramones. They sound more like Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. And they’re threatening to change their name to The Coca Cola band to get some recognition. Fabulously sarky and only semi-intelligible, this is rudely noisome and as subtle as a brick through the window. What makes this mardy slice of Northernness even more remarkable is that the gawky lads are from Iceland, not Barnsley. We like it a lot. www.myspace.com/jakobinarina RMcG

South Central : “ Machine / Revolution ” REGAL 13.8.07 Very loud. Louder with the volume down than half a dozen other records. And full on. Massive electro rock beats with a nutter shouting over the top with the kind of vocal treatment Mark E Smith used to favour. The purely slamming nature of the sound is something rave-revivalists The Klaxons can only dream of. South Central really don’t seem to car that they’ll probably go deaf and blind while dying of dehydration. Absolutley the thing for irresponsible dancing hedonism. www.myspace.com/southcentralmusic RMcG

Gossip : “ Jealous Girls ” BACK YARD 20.8.07 Still the second-best garage band around, with that soul voice topping choppy jittery guitar and pounding drums. Despite almost losing the bands indie image through a focus on the diminutive sexy front woman becoming model, food guru and agony aunt, the Gossip keep pushing on thanks to the simple and busy format of three-piece punk band. B-side Coal To Diamonds uses the ballad format to showcase that fabulously catch-in-the-throat voice. www.gossipyouth.com RMcG

Bat For Lashes : “ What’s A Girl To Do ” PARLOPHONE 25.6.07 Like a noughties version of The Shangri-las, this song of walking out with someone you don’t love any more. What will you say when the thrill is gone and he turns to you and asks if you love him? What’s a Girl To Do? Teetering on the edge of camp with the retro-inspired structure, the song remains timeless in a feeling that has remained the same down the centuries. Pop, as poetry, reminds us of the eternal verities through apparently simple songs that can break your heart. www.batforlashes.co.uk RMcG

LE RENO AMPS : “ Poison Letter ” ARMELLODIE 11.6.07 I’m sure that should be ‘poisoned’ but then that kind of thing bothers people like me. This Glaswegian outfit and been (often favourably) compared to Violent Femmes and the Decembrists. It’s a little bit bluesy and a little bit alt-country and a little bit punk. It’s also a big bit Britpop and ends up feeling a little like we’ve heard this all before. A little bit good. No more than that. www.lerenoamps.com HT

REVEREND AND THE MAKERS : “ Heavyweight Champion Of The World ” WALL OF SOUND 28.5.07 Championed by the Arctic Monkeys and one can mostly see why. Madchester beats make this annoyingly danceable. It’s catchy and lyrically clever. Polished funky pop-rock. Feel good hit of the summer, methinks. www.iamreverend.com HT

VOXTROT : “ Blood Red Blood ” Despite the deliberative building of layers of careful polish, the lack of anything interesting below the surface shows through. There are a lot of instruments, all handled moderately well, but it’s rather bland and mainstream – and at nigh on four minutes, downright bloated. HT

TIM DELUXE : “ Let The Beats Roll ” SKINT 21.5.07 Beats as big ‘n’ chunky as a Saturday night meathead with half his Stella down his best short-sleeved shirt. There’s something scruffy and electro in there somewhere and some exuberant whoop! whoop! but this sort of stuff is not my cup of tea at all. There are about fifty remixes on this single as well. Aficionados will surely be able to spot the significant differences between each. www.timdeluxe.com HT

FINDLAY BROWN : “ Come Home ” PEACEFROG RECORDS 5.02.07 A peaceful record that is as uplifting as it is soulful. A call for reconciliation from a man with no energy to shout, it just gets better on every listen. I’m a big fan of singers and guitars anyway, but Brown’s voice is so unique I could quite easily listen to it all day. B-side “Broken Every Rule” is part confession, part story, and who wouldn’t forgive him with the regret present in his voice. Go and download both tracks, and await the album later in the month… Streaming video of Findlay - high res Streaming video of Findlay - low res SM

DAN SARTAIN : “ Flight Of The Finch ” ONE LITTLE INDIAN 29.1.07 Cooler-than-feck greaser, Dan Sartain, hymns the Finch by way of warning his woman (his bird….?), that, like all the cool guys he’s a loner who’ll be around when he’s lonely then will disappear to do his thing. Gee, Dan, does that work for you as a chat-up line? Anyhoo, this finch malarkey is a cross between a Mariachi band and a rhumba, in the final analysis, inordinately cool, with plaintive violin and roughly decorative guitar in the style of Tom Waits collaborator Marc Ribot. B-side, Besame Mucho is just as cool, earning Dan Sartain comparisons with other attitude stylists like Joe Strummer. Go and buy the album and keep Dan in hair oil. www.indian.co.uk/dansartain RMcG

ASSEMBLY NOW : “ Leigh-On-Sea ” FANDANGO 29.1.07 Assembly Now have been sending us tracks for a while now, each more polished than the last. This, their second single is punchy and fabulously burbly, all being jabbed in the ribs with elbows while the bass tickles you under the chin. There’s an angular quality like that of early Razorlight and a rushed and jerky quality to the vocals that sends excitement levels soaring. At heart it is South London pop, in the ears it is a racey and possibly dangerous rush of hormones and adrenalin. Packed full of passion and tension, alternately controlled and released, I have to admit to sitting at the computer waving my arms around and banging my feet around. www.assemblynow.com RMcG

MALCOM MIDDLETON : “ A Brighter Beat ” FULL TIME HOBBY 22.1.07 “Now you’ve gone, and left me, there’s nothing here, but a tenner, in my pocket and a fridge full of beer”. Calling your single and album is a bit of a larf for dour Scotsman, Malcolm Middleton, Arab Strap’s king of the bedsits. The frantically Smiths-ian riffing and backbeat belie Malcolm’s dark vision of the world. Malcolm sings of a bedsit land reluctance to leave the room and a general sense of purpose in moping around in a depressive way while listening to favourite records. Strangely uplifting – I love it. www.malcolmmiddleton.co.uk RMcG

THE HOURS : “ Back When You Were Good ” A&M RECORDS 22.1.07 Big and grand, a chiming, sweeping statement of…. something. A song about change, loss and the desire to be back in some golden age of never-was. The singer appropriates the god-like position of the omni-present observer to lament the descent of the subject of the song. Covers the kind of sad territory of Richard Thompsons ‘Beeswing’ in a more grandiloquent, flashy way. Will appeal to fans of The Divine Comedy and the like. www.thehours.co.uk RMcG

KLAXONS : “ Golden Skans ” RINSE / POLYDOR 22.1.07 Golden Skans? What does that mean? And who really cares? Klaxons manage to turn the electro craze to a shiny, perfected gem by putting synth power to the service of a mass of ‘ooo, ooh’ backing choruses. A thrummed and ever-present bass sends urgent messages to the important but opaque lead vocal and an ambience of serious debauchery. I’m sure someone can decipher important depths to the lyrics but they’ll have to get past the insistent desire to dance instead, hanging like a siren on a rock, just past the next line. www.klaxons.net RMcG

THE ORDINARY BOYS : “ I Love U ” B-UNIQUE 15.1.07 After the whiny ‘Lonely At The Top’, The Ordinary Boys abandon the rock (and the rock star whinging) for a gently swinging ballad that rolls along in a pleasantly relaxed manner. The album had left me so dulled of mind that this passed me by and I didn’t even recognise the song when it arrived as a single. It’s a loose-limbed number, swaggering down a sunny lane. The kind of cute but not-quite-soppy thing that’ll serve as a present from any number of lads keen to please their own Chantelles. www.theordinaryboys.co.uk RMcG

THE AUTOMATIC : “ Raoul ” B-UNIQUE 8.1.07 Back in March this single got its first release and we said: There’s a fevered intensity induced by the synth line running a subliminal burbled amphetamine bubble twisting up into a cyclone for the chorus. Other than that the punchy working of the contemporary dance-rock bigbeat aesthetic is plenty effective. The Automatic remind me of any number of contemporary bands suggesting an A&R man signing up someone surfing the zeitgeist but what-the-hell – it’s beaty, bouncy, boppy and makes me happy. Since then they’ve put out a series of every-bit-as-mental singles, reinforcing their vision of big-beat hyper-intensity squeal-rock. Good on ‘em. www.theautomatic.co.uk RMcG

THE HEDRONS : “ Heatseeker ” MEASURED RECORDS 8.1.07 Loudly clumping through the night, the Glaswegian gurl band The Hedrons want to be The Ramones. They make the kind of four to the floor rock that people like Juliette Lewis has been seeking to emulate. Not sure that I don’t like emulation more than this apparently straight run through the genre. Nothing really stands out (though the bass sound is a saving grace) unlike the very promising July debut single, ‘Be My Friend’. Good but just a wee bit not out of the ordinary. The world needs more female rock bands so get out and prove me wrong with the album please, lasses (out in Feb). www.thehedrons.com RMcG

LITTLE BARRIE : “ Love You ” GENUINE 8.1.07 It’s all very quiff-a-billy here, popping the bass and skipping down the frets. Little Barrie have previously failed to move and new bassist, Billy Skinner, seems to move the bones a bit more. Eponymous Barrie Codogan, in reality only 2ft 8inches high, stretches up to the megaphone to deliver the finest skiffle singing heard since the Jockeys' Male Voice Choir covered the Stray Cats’ songbook. I’m not really convinced of the POINT of Little Barrie but I bet they throw a hell of a party and there’s surely got to be some swing dancing going on at one of their gigs. www.genuinerecords.net RMcG

THE GOOD SHOES : “ The Photos On My Wall ” BRILLE RECORDS 25.12.06 Oh, ha ha, released on Christmas Day. What a set of wags. When I saw this band last they were sparky and crunchy, all cross-cutting rhythms and Beefheart-ian assaults on the structure of song. The Photos On My Wall sees the singer taking tips from Robert Smith and the band taking a step in a less frenetic direction, moving a teeny bit into the realm of The Cure’s ‘Three Imaginary Boys’. Or very early Razorlight, without the crooning. Coming on nicely as a band; choppy, quirky, with a developing melodic core appearing as the mannered style boils of in the light of repeated performance. www.goodshoes.co.uk RMcG

THE ANSWER : “ Come Follow Me ” ALBERT PRODUCTIONS 18.12.06 Not exactly subtle, The Answer go in for talking about crushing your face and telling you tales. They want you to ‘Come Follow Me’ and, should you have a penchant for hard rocking, you probably will. This is hard rock of the tight trousers and phallic guitar variety, with bone shaking riffs and widdling solos to air-guitar to. Chucking out the fashionable ironicism will lead to air-punching and posing in front of the mirror to this one. Nice to hear something with some blood flowing in it’s vessels. www.theanswer.ie RMcG

JAMES MORRISON : “ The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore ” POLYDOR 18.12.06 If you need drippy love songs or uplifting MOR, James is currently the man of choice. Maybe not the best material but, ooooh, THAT voice. All warm and a wee bit husky with a soul inflection channelled straight from Otis Redding. James Morrison is my current guilty secret. It’s never going to be cool to listen to him but at times it is a hard-bitten Stevie Wonder and a voice that just drips meaning and sincerity. The Pieces Don’t Fit Any More isn’t anything super special, just another tale about giving up when love turns dull but as the alchemists knew, the right ingredient can turn leaden material into gold and here, this dog turd is polished by golden tonsils into a masterpiece of song. And that, folks, is craftsmanship. www,jamesmorrissonmusic.com RMcG

PULL TIGER TAIL : “ Mr 100 Percent ” B-UNIQUE RECORDS 11.12.06 Driven, speedy pop-rock from the Tiger boys. A nice line in drum beats and a pleasing breakdown to the rhythm mid-way add the icing on this Christmas cake of pop construction. Fizzily built on a sugar base, I suspect the jerky confection could wash away in the new year rains but live, I bet this is a solid bopping proposition. Download free from www.pulltigertail.com RMcG

VIVA VOCE : “ Faster Than A Dead Horse ” FULL TIME HOBBY 11.12.06 Despite Anita spending gigs strangling her guitar in a way that says ‘I want to be in Crazy Horse’, Viva Voce have the capacity to plod like a dead horse. And maybe that’s the point. On disc, despite occasionally (like here) working up a bit of a groove, they generally fail to make the blood pump faster. Drummer Kevin, the other member of the duo, demands fancy drum effects here and Anita gets overdubs till the whole thing is a dog’s dinner, rather than a Dead Horse. RMcG

THE MIGHTY ROARS : “ Sellotape / Jude & Sienna ” DEW PROCESS / POLYDOR 11.12.06 Screamingly loud, Sellotape is full of distorted-out vocals, triple-speed riffs, three-note guitar solos and blarts of noise. It is well-worked up for a ditty about sticky tape and disappears over the top before long, accompanied by some peculiar percussive effects in disturbing stereo. If you shoved three packs of sherbert up Juliette Lewis’ nostrils, poured fizzy pop in and applied gaffer tape the results might be like this. Then again, it’s purely a hypothesis – don’t try this at home kids…… Conversely, Jude & Sienna chronicles a tale of Hello Magazine proportions. Spacey guitars needle at Lara’s tacky tale and things get a bit warped into strange arrangements by the end. www.themightyroars.com RMcG

BABYSHAMBLES : “ The Blinding EP ” REGAL 4.12.06 Shabby-Bandles have a five track EP here to bamboozle and puzzle. Rough, scratchy and choppy, the title track is actually a decent piece. Love You But You’re Green is an auto-biographical lightweight stumble. ShadyBangles have directly ripped the intro for I Wish but I forget where from. It’s a skank with a rather patronising attempt at patois. Beg, Steal Or Borrow is a return to the chiming ramble of Libertines-era Doherty. BathingShandy slug their way through Sedative, a throw-away stumble. Rather more acceptable than live offerings and a healthy length, suggesting some effort has been made but still more a sideshow to the Doherty / Daily Mail show than a work of art. www.babyshambles.net RMcG

TWILIGHT SINGERS : “ A Stitch In Time EP ” ONE LITTLE INDIAN 4.12.06 At twenty-plus minutes, this is more like half an album, one side of a vinyl elpee. It’s long enough to have ups and downs, highs and lows. Not having been a fan of The Afghan Whigs or subsequent output, One Little Indian asked me to persist and, having respect for the label’s taste, I did. I was proved part right, part wrong and was glad to have been made to reconsider. In Live With Me, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) adds a depth of the real bluesy lowlife and gives the band space to stretch out with a floating guitar line and yearning, hanging melody. Said melody being by, of course, Massive Attack, here darkened and roughed up at the edges. Sublime, with Joseph Arthur is a trip into soul, backed by racing trip-beats. Flashback has an epic sweep, fronted by Lanegan again, They Ride dragged on rather and The Lure Would Prove Too Much was a shuffle-waltz, decorated with mellotron and slide guitar and drifting in to a slab of Americana meets Floyd’s Gilmour. www.thetwilightsingers.com RMcG

BRAKES : “Hold Me In The River” ROUGH TRADE 4.12.06 One of the highlights of Brakes’ ‘Beatific Visions’ album, this song has it all, changes in tempo, an amusing yet appealing voice and catchy guitars. The band claim it is a tribute to Scarlett Johansson, and who am I to argue? If you don’t go the full hog and buy the album (I recommend you do!), at the very least get yourself ‘Hold Me In The River’. SM

THE GRATES : “Science Is Golden” DEW PROCESS / POLYDOR 30.10.06 Sounding louder and fuller than a three-piece really out to, this Aussie three-piece offer girly pop that flits between loud thrash, big chorus, crappo puns and a break-down to hand-claps that pays homage to any number of girl groups. Still at the stage of support band to the support band, The Grates haven’t accumulated enough mileage to get tired or worn and Science Is Golden has more energy than I’d expected. Then as Ross Halewood, our rock correspondent, pontificates about girl groups: “Hey, I like girls, I like groups, I like girl groups….”. www.thegrates.com RMcG

ENTER SHIKARI : “Sorry You’re Not A Winner / OK! Time For Plan B” AMBUSH REALITY 30.10.06 Currently industry leaders in song titles, Enter Shikari are one of the few shouty-metal entrants in this month’s pile of records. It’s a genre that puzzles me (and that’s not only because it’s a title I made up myself….). Amongst this sort of thing it presses plenty of buttons: Quirks: Yes – handclaps. Shouty bits: Oh yes. Chuntery guitars: Plenty. Quiet bits alternate with loud bits: Of course. Lead singer is hoarse: The gent featured near the end will need throat pastilles after. Scope for fist waving: the phrase ‘let this battle commence’ will trigger waves of air punching. www.entershikari.com RMcG

LUXEMBOURG : “Sick Of DIY”
DOG BOX RECORDS 16.10.06

Luxembourg’s releases are getting more and more like diary snapshots. This one has all sorts of details that hint at a real memory. This is a big pop-production number that travels a parallel track to The Divine Comedy singing The Smiths. It’s an arch yet sweet little ditty about wanting your lover to move in instead of just spending every weekend over at yours. Hints at putting her on a pedestal and pre-figuring the heartache of the last single We Only Stayed Together For The Kids. Now that’s chronologically confused….. Perhaps a musical of the life of their frontman is in the works….

www.luxembourgband.com

RMcG

HUMANZI : “Out On A Wire” FICTION RECORDS 16.10.06 The marvellously overwrought early U2 / Joy Division impersonators pull another from their splendidly tightly pounding debut album. Furious reminder of all things post-punk, Humanzi make this scribbler happy that the good bits of that era are still being recreated in a new and up to date shape without all the distracting dreck that dragged the decade down. Well worth catching live too. Oh, and can I recommend the album? www.humanzi.com RMcG

HICKS MILLIGAN PROPHECY : “The Good, The Bad And The Iceberg EP” ATOMIC DUSTER RECORDS 16.10.06 Wow! Starts out just like some remake of an eighties Soft Cell tune. Then grabs a further sense of urgency and disappears into a whirl of retro-futuro- synth rock. Kinda diverts the attention from the sad truth that the inevitable shortening of the name to initials will lead to confusion with Wormwood Scrubs and similar hotels for the legally challenged. Further confusion comes with the well-strange lyrical touches. Track one is called Monkey See, Monky Lifestyle and track two – King Herod’s Baby Milk – is mostly a voice crooning ‘welcome to East Croydon”…… I’m glad to say Pro-Celebrity Prostitution makes even less sense as it whirls in a fury of keyboards and yelps. Interesting, detailed, peculiar and hard-working. Fun. www.hm-p.com RMcG

THE HOLLOWAYS : “Generator” TVT RECORDS 16.10.06 Continuing the theme of Her Majesty's Prisons, we have..... The Holloways. Who is there whose heart is so hard that he doesn’t like The Holloways? Combining nostalgia for teen parties and home-taping with homespun homilies (“may I remind you that you don’t live in poverty, you’ve got your youth and a healthy body”) and a punky ska beat. Right now, I can’t see many competitors for the joie-de-vivre kings title that is rightfully theirs. And, the corny bits are carried over in the whole wash of feel-good that emanates from the grooves of this CD. www.the-holloways.com RMcG

LITTLE BARRIE : “Pin That Badge EP” GENUINE RECORDS 16.10.06 Nicely dressed up jerky funk. Fiddly and bangy, plying a jazzy road through the indie-dance jungle. Reminded me quite a lot of Big Strides. Track two shows an ability to cut a rug doing the frug in a fuzzed up sixties-meets-the noughties stylee. www.littlebarrie.com RMcG

MR HUDSON : “The Bread And Roses EP” DEAL REAL RECORDS 16.10.06 Clever stuff. Track one has a bit of trip-hop going on, fused to future-folk and unashamed sentiments. Track two is a mash-up of Dylan’s I Shall Be Released. Mr Hancock Vs Mr Hudson is a short and pointless cut up of Tony H’s Blood Donor sketch. The EP is rounded up with a remix of the title track (though better titled Give Blood). I find something a little mannered and clever here but I suspect that as he relaxes into his songwriting and stops trying to be flash, Mr H may just shine. And there is a place for his gentle songs set to trip-hop beats. www.dealreal.co.uk RMcG

THE HEDRONS : “I Need You” MEASURED RECORDS 9.10.06 The Hedrons’ first single (Be My Friend) was a thing of joy, fury and beauty. This one plunders Iggy Pop’s riff book in a rather too obvious way (Passenger) and it mars the song for me. Actually it’s less a song and more a burst of energy and movement. Just loud, undisciplined rock in a dunderheaded joyful celebration of noise. And I do love the cracked voices of rock chicks. www.thehedrons.com RMcG

GOSSIP : “Standing In The Way Of Control” BACK YARD RECORDINGS 2.10.06 Very huge and stompy beat, fires up a disco thumper. Beth Ditto has a little girl voice that cracks into a larger universe when the turbo kicks in. (You know, that Janis Joplin effect…). It’s not that often that big soul - dance tunes work in a political dimension but this does. It’s not overt and can pass for an uplifter like I Will Survive but Standing In The Way Of Control is a call to stand up against government interference in the lives of the populace. Kicked off by the US government’s refusal to allow gay people to marry, this fuels the fire of justified anger. www.gossipyouth.co.uk RMcG