New Releases - 15th November

New Releases - 15th November

10 November, 2010
by: Music Team

As Tory HQ burns, we take a look at next week's new releases, because that'll really hack 'em off.

Tame Impala – Sundown Syndrome/Remember Me
Modular Recordings

If these songs were in a film, they'd soundtrack the bit where the protagonist takes their first naïve hit of psychedelic drugs and subsequently comes of age, their mind finally opened to the possibilities of peace, love and tranquillity, maaan.

As the action bursts into technicolour, TI's LSD-drenched harmonies (think 'Strawberry Fields' era Beatles) would gently caress them. Then, as they sunk deeper into previously unexplored realms of their psyche, the song's Hendrix guitar would engulf them in a bubble they never wanted to leave. 5/5
LM

Imelda May –  Kentish Town Waltz
Universal

Imelda May may look like a 1950s rockabilly, and sound like a soul siren, but she's from the Liberties, one of the roughest areas of Dublin, and her knack for storytelling and strong vocals is Irish to the core. This song mines the rich vein of Irish balladeering, recounting a couple's love through all the troubles that life throws at them.

This could have been twee, but May's voice gives it a tough fresh edge. Beautiful. 4.5/5
SB

Braid – I'm Afraid of Everything
Polyvinyl

Due to popular demand Braid, the forefathers of emo, have re-released their classic single ‘I’m Afraid Of Everything’ on 7’’.

Originally released way back in 1996 the track serves as a point of reference for pretty much everything remotely emotional since, from the quiet verse/LOUD CHORUS structure to the let's-talk-about-our-feelings lyrics. More due to the crashing lack of imagination of moderm emo bands than anything else, this song sounds pretty tired in 2010 but gets a couple more points for this not really being Braid's fault. 3/5
SJ

Digitalism – Blitz
Kitsune

Digitalism's brand of slightly poppy electro shouldn't push my buttons, but for some reason it does – their only full studio album, 'Idealism', is one of my favourite electro albums of the last five years. Their deft manipulation and progression of their satisfyingly crunky synths counters the often cheesy overtones and effortlessly draws you in.

Having been quite quiet on the production front since the album this EP is highly anticipated but sadly its title track, 'Blitz', is a little disappointing. It lacks the soul of previous efforts and slightly leaves you with the feeling that it never got off its feet. 2.5/5
LG

Westlife – Safe
Sony Music

'Safe' is a big, boring belter of a track, undistinguishable from most other Westlife songs. If you like it, you're probably in an emotional rut. 

One such emotionally challenged YouTuber commented :"so mature" – read dull; "I think that the music video would've been better if they showed how Mark got into the accident first." – You can take from that pretty much everything you need to know. For fans short on time, the all important key change comes at 1.45 then there's an even bigger one at 2.59!  2/5
NK

Hurts – Stay
Townsend
 
This latest offering from the ever-slickly suited Hurts boys is a bit of an emotional one.
With an opening that sounds inescapably like Westlife it feels more like the soundtrack to a movie about unicorns than what you might expect from a duo tipped as Manchester’s hottest '80s synth revival.

The beats are big and meaty though. And it’s always nice to have a choir isn’t it…? 2/5
AH

Band A Part –  No Se Por Que
Elefant

Ahhh, translation websites – hours of fun. As their bio was entirely in Spanish, I turned to spanishdict.com to read it, and apparently their songs have "some melody of those that slide in your head with a horrific ability". 'No se Por Que' ('I don't know why') is a twinkly pop song that's as kitsch as a Hello Kitty collectors' convention.

Javi looks exactly the same as my friend Ed, who whilst in Asia was followed by brooding old ladies who thought he was Jesus himself. I wonder if Javi has the same problem? 2/5
CW

Boyz Noize – Nott 
BoyzNoizeRecords

So a tune from Boyz Noize called 'Nott'. It has a sample of a computer voice saying it's not techno. Either this is a joke because it actually is techno, or it's him being really anal about whatever he wants to call this electro/fidget/acid/techno cross-breed genre.

Either way it sounds like unimaginative crap to me. Reminds me of really bad DJs at really bad warehouse parties in Shoreditch circa 2001. Let's not even talk about the B-side. 2/5
TO

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Music Team