As mid-week fatigue sets in, the Spoonfed team are on hand to liven things up with another thrilling instalment of Singles of The Week. From choice cuts to clangers, we unveil the latest offerings to grace the UK music scene.
The Jessie Rose Trip – You Won't Forget Me Boy
Garden Records
A nostalgic, yet extraordinarily fresh outing, 'You Won't Forget Me Boy' purveys a slick, self-styled mix of jazz, rousing soul and rock 'n' roll.
Boasting an incredibly anthemic chorus, this funk-laden romp is by turns mellow and defiant, teeming with arresting tension throughout. Though tinged with the gusto of Amy Winehouse, frontwoman Jessie Rose demonstrates additionally sublime vocal talent, her agile notes caressing the keyboard's bluesy mid-section.
Despite the quartet's strikingly original sound, '...Boy' will no doubt excite fans and critics alike with its quirky, though ultimately digestible trappings. 4/5
FC
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Island Records
Being the type to melt under an adscititious banjo, Mumford & Sons' new single, ‘The Cave’ from, but of course, their marvellous Mercury Award-nominated debut (damn you, Ms. Debelle with your slightly more overt musical fusion) grows to stirringly visceral choral zeal.
Everything attached to this song, the melody, the lyrics, the sentiment, this ruddy review, just embodies this spurious little genre that is marching exultantly across the airwaves. Hook your Barbour over your shoulders and join the celebration. 4/5
PW
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Skeletons
Interscope Records
The obvious reaction to hearing a slow-burning YYYs tearjerker is to label it the new ‘Maps’ and plaster it all over a montage of an overly earnest closing scene involving tears/a funeral/explosions in Hollyoaks.
Yet even this zenith of indie success doesn’t quite do the best track on the over-hyped ‘It’s Blitz’ justice. The rolling Caledonian drums, lightly swelling synths and Karen O’s understated vocals prove once and for all that these three are at their best when they hold back. 4/5
MF
Veronica Falls – Found Love In A Graveyard
Piccadilly Records
Atmospheric, ominous thudding drums open this shadowy-sweet number from four-piece Veronica Falls. Call me strange, but the opening sounds like a kind of haunting Shakespearean ditty.
This all changes as Roxanne Clifford’s delightfully wispy, ghostly vocals set in motion a little tandem of echoes – “found love, found love” - and a catchy bit of boy/girl interchange on the singing front. All in all, a partially poignant, hummable, uplifting song. 4/5
LR
Not Squares – Asylum
Richter Collective
Infectious disco rock with minimal lyrical content and an E.S.G-esque focus on a really energetic and driving rhythm section.
You'd have to entirely lack rhythm and/or a sense of fun to not tap your foot to this one. 4/5
TO
Crookers – Remedy feat. Miike Snow
Southern Fried Records
Having remixed for maybe a gazillion musicians, it's about time the Crookers released their own album and ooh, look how many cool friends they've pulled in to collaborate. Soulwax, Major Lazar, Yelle and Róisín Murphy all feature on the album, plus Swedish dance producers Miike Snow on this track - 'Remedy.'
With a driving beat and Snow’s trademark vocals sounding almost ghostly here, it doesn't have the glitchy, fidgety mayhem typical of most Crookers tracks, but that is no bad thing. This is catchy as hell with some excellent remixes from Alexkid and Riton. 4/5
EM
Jesca Hoop – Feast Of The Heart
Indie Europe
Famously Tom Waits’ kids’ nanny, Jesca Hoop is a quirky Californian-imported folk artist who creates darkly ambitious musical storm clouds.
'Feast of the heart' is a lot more rocky than her last offerings. Two basses, a drum track and her voice create intense, sweet yet somehow abrasive folk-rock.
Her style comes on strong, dips and dives, pushes through luscious lows to kick back in with military drums. Really, spellbindingly good – and utterly original. 4/5
LC
French Horn Rebellion - Beaches and Friends
Once Upon A Time
It would be so easy to say that French Horn Rebellion look like Empire of The Sun, sound like MGMT and are probably worse than both.
However, I think they might be taking the piss and 'Beaches and Friends' is actually electro space, synth-led melodious pop at its most catchy. So I am going to hedge my bets and say 'Beaches and Friends' will drive ironically clad people to the dance floor in droves from here to Skegness. 3/5
BG
The Eels – Line in the Dirt
Vagrant Records
The Eels will never remake ‘Beatiful Freak’. Fact. Mark ‘E’ Everett sold his electric guitar and started growing a beard in 1999! We’re all hurt, but LET IT GO.
And anyway, the familiar dry husk of E’s voice remains, and his beautiful grasp of melody probably benefits from the gentle arrangements now favoured, meaning this is a). not bad and b). streets ahead of most alt-folk competitors.
Who else could make a line like “she locked herself in the bathroom again, so I am pissing in the yard” sound so crestfallenly romantic? 'Nuff said. 3/5
JL
Boyzone - Gave It All Away
Polydor
Boyzone's new single, 'Gave It All Away,' is a touching homage to the late Stephen Gately.
His vocals actually feature on it as well, because it was supposed to be released in 2008. Now, I suppose the record companies have changed their minds about it because it is not wholly unbearable (and they stand to make a fair amount of money).
Although, is it wrong to say that his voice still grates on me? Perhaps. But I defy anyone to listen to this and not be slightly touched. 2/5
AG
Though Boyzone's weepy balladry hit a decidedly flat note with our discerning critics, both The Jessie Rose Trip and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are currently top of the office playlist.
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