New Releases - 19th Jan

New Releases - 19th Jan

14 January, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Squarepusher  – Zounds Perspex
Warp

Tom Jenkinson. What a legend. This is the first track from his new EP 'Numbers Lucent'. Drawing on his not inconsiderable rave heritage as his inspiration, the six tracks explore variations in dancefloor psychedelia. It's like an aural museum of dance music.

This track basically distills old skool hardcore drums - which do genuinely sound early '90s rave - with a heavy acid 303 synth. It's even got the eye-rolling 'can I 'ave a sip of your water mate' breakdown. Let's hear it for the hardcore crew! LC

Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses
Domino

Golly, he sounds camp in this one, does King Fringe Kapranos. Oh yes, he's booooored, soooo bored. Then he wants to get high, so he sings soooo high. Oh la, la la la la, Ulysses, my Ulysses. Oh dear, looks like all those Dior trousers might have put a dent in his intellect.

The track is heavy: shifting, phasing, pulsing, darker, darker than before. But what the devil is the shiny suited one on about? We know you love Edwyn Collins, but this sounds more Noël Coward. And not in a particularly good way. TJ

TV on the Radio – Dancing Close
Interscope

Having read about this band everywhere from Observer Music Magazine to Metro as innovators in experimental post-punk rock, it was surprising to put on their new single and discover that they make old-fashioned, slightly shit jazz.

Experimental in a marketable way, this random lyrical list references a rich heritage from Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' through Public Image Ltd and Billy Joel to REM's 'End of the World as We Know It', which it sounds a bit like. It's not very good at all. JH

Tinchy Stryder feat Taio Cruz – Take Me Back
Takeover Entertainment

Why is everyone buying into this electro-pop bullshit? It used to feel sort of fresh and edgy, but the mechanical handling of disparate elements of house and grime with the sole intention of garnering mass appeal is getting really offensive, first with that obnoxious T.I track and now this.

I love Tinchy's softly skittering voice, and, for me, that saves the song a bit. But there's no getting away from the fact that not only is this very by-numbers, but they have also rhymed 'mistreated' with 'misleaded'. For shame. LS
 
Mindless Self Indulgence – Evening Wear
The End Records

This is the worst kind of music imaginable: whiny, overproduced punk-metal embellished with unnecessary electronic beats. Lyrically MSI plunge to new depths, actually rhyming 'I don't care' and 'It's not fair' without a hint of irony.

Bands like this seem to exist solely for the purpose of allowing eyeliner-wearing outcast teens to channel their frustrations. It's a cruel thought, but if you like this rubbish then maybe you deserve to be bullied. MH

The Bronx – Young Bloods
Witchita

Being 26, I'm too young to have really appreciated Nation of Ulysses and by the time I cottoned on to them, they had already moved far, far on. Then my mate played me 'Heart Attack American' and it was like all that didn't matter.

However, things change and like most of the stuff off the new album, 'Young Bloods' is more a gut puncher than the savage beating of yesteryear. Not that I'm saying it's bad, far from it – it's a fire-breathing indie rock track that reminds me of Hot Water Music, but by Bronx standards, it hits like a girl. DH

Screaming Lights – GMN
ANTI

Here's a plea for you, Jay Treadell of Screaming Lights: we've all heard Interpol and we've all heard Editors. Just because you're in a band and you're a bit grumpy about something, it doesn't mean you have to sing exactly like them. Honestly, it doesn't.

This track kicks off like an early '90s rave anthem (which is kind of fun) but as soon as Treadell starts, it goes all gloomy and portentous. GMN isn't bad as such, it's just quite boring. And I think it stands for Great Missenden railway station, which is kind of weird. TJ

Pink – Sober
LaFace Records

Ooh Pink sure is a saucy little minx!  The video for new release 'Sober' features her having sex with herself. Yup. Check it out (2mins 24secs). 

Right, focus! The song. I quite like it and it's bound to strike a chord with many a dribbling soak. True to form, the lyrics are raw and heartfelt as she wishes she could get that confident, drunk feeling when sober. Good timing with the New Year as well: 'Why do I feel this party's over?' Indeed. EM

The Narrator – Cavaliers
Flameshovel

After wowing the assembled masses at 2007's SXSW, The Narrator has been a bit quiet of late, and you know what? It's like they've never been away. 'Cavaliers' is an amazingly autumnal piece of US indie rock in an Oxford Collapse-meets-Pavement sort of way.

It rocks in a straightforward kind of way. The lyrics are about nothing in particular. In fact if it was released 12 years ago, it could have been on an episode of Pete and Pete, if anyone remembers that. DH

Banjo or Freakout – Mr No
No Pain in Pop

Banjo or Freakout is one of those embarrassing, studenty band names that was probably conceived whilst blazin' serious quantities of 'da chronic'. On this evidence, though, they are unlikely ever to become successful enough for their moniker to become a burden.
 
'Mr No' is the work of a laptop dilettante with pretentions of shoegaze grandeur, a somewhat vague electronic soundscape underpinned with insipid, lifeless vocals. It's not awful by any means, just a bit wimpish and dull. MH

So, errr, that went well. You can always look at our What's On page - we actually like some stuff. Also there's a Facebook group that you should join. Seriously.

Music Team