New Releases - 22 Sept

17 September, 2008
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Saint Etienne – Burnt Out Car
Universal

Back in 1996 when I had just got a new bike and even Nick Thomas was jealous, hearing this was like riding a big silver Maserati or something straight out of Nuneaton and down the M1 to go and hang out with Sarah Cracknell and her arty mates at some cool party in Kentish Town, maybe wearing shades and talking about Sartre and that.

I never did get to meet her, but the track's here again and it’s still got those really classy vibes that we all fell in love with first time around. TJ

James Morrison – You Make It Real
Polydor

More music for middle-class couples to hold hands to in Starbucks as they discuss the credit crunch. I've probably had the misfortune of hearing most of Morrison's singles on the radio in the past couple of years; however I can't recall a note.

This track will (thankfully) leave exactly the same impression – a fleeting slice of acoustic nothingness that aims for nothing, says nothing and means nothing. Christ, even James Blunt sounds like he believes in the dross he releases. MF

Will Young – Changes
Sony/BMG

With melancholy lyrics like 'Hope my life changes/been out of luck for so long', it's clear Will Young is still singing about the same old shit.

This is bland, whiney and reminds me of standing in a long queue in Dixons arguing with head manager Dennis about the fact that this Nikon camera I bought from his shop has broken after only three weeks and while I may have lost the guarantee I expect a full refund. EM

Toddla T featuring Serocee – Manabadman
Columbia

Like other, less-appealing producers we could mention, Sheffield lad Toddla T takes a nonpartisan approach, drawing on dance culture magpie-style.

His reference points are appetising: dancehall, jungle, garage and the urge to fiddle with synthesisers that seems to come from something in the water 'round his way. 'Manabadman' is accessible, making it hard to predict the future for Toddla and his MC. Will they remain abnormally colourful underground figures, or spawn a better version of big beat? Either way, it should work out. RH

Mercury Rev – Senses On Fire
V2 Records

Occupies the same aural sofa space as Lemon Jelly. This track fades into the background. In fact, it slips past without anyone really noticing, dragging its overt 'niceness' with it. Music like this is insidious. It's not shouting about anything, there's no passion, it doesn't move you. It does bugger all.

'Senses On Fire' certainly doesn't say much (besides telling you that someone's senses are on fire – rest assured – not yours) and seems to be for people who sit on fences and like the colour beige. LC

Ironik – I Wanna Be Your Man
Atlantic

After listening to this truly shocking piece of chipmunk grime I wanted to hate Ironik. However, I checked his myspace and he's nothing worse than a goofy teenager with a desire to make track after track of mobile-phone-suitable lovey-dovey grime-waffle.

'I Wanna Be Your Man' exemplifies his limited oeuvre and has a catchy bassline, warbling sped up vocals and impossibly bland subject matter about loving his girlfriend. It's not Ironik's fault he's been picked up by the deaf idiots at Atlantic. JH

Popular Workshop – Reptilians
This is Fake DIY

Popular Workshop are an excitable bunch – and 'Reptilians' is a typically frantic track that sounds so nervous it could be a soundtrack to nail-biting or walking over a tight-rope.

It's slightly let down by an overly pop chorus though – feeling a little like they've tacked a Blur chorus into a Wire song, but overall it's not a bad effort for a band still finding their feet in chart land. DH

Ladytron – Runaway
Nettwerk

I so wanted this to be a mad electro version of the Del Shannon tune. It's there, a bit, in the repeated (and repeated, and repeated...) refrain of 'My little runaway', but other than that this is like the girls from The Human League kicking out ol' Oakey and covering Kraftwerk.

It shimmers and shines and despite being instantly disposable, will no doubt provide a few Noel Fielding wannabes with a soundtrack to standing around all self-consciously on assorted East London dancefloors. MF

The Aliens – Magic Man
Petrock

There's something exceptionally retro about 'Magic Man', probably the naïve doggerel about said personage rendered in uncanny Beatles harmonies. But their wannabe-expansive psych-pop is boxed in by churning indie riffage and a static, programmed back-beat. The Beatles' head-expanding moments were memorable because they were allowed to float free of a nominally safe context.

The overall effect is of an odd assemblage, elevating this over pure homage. But considering how much defter the Beta Band's juxtapositions were, it's surprising that The Aliens comprise three ex-members. RH

White Lies – Death
Polydor

The best post-punk is slightly prophetic (The Specials' 'Ghost Town' for example) and in today's financial climate, White Lies' release of Death is more like a modern day Danse Macabre than a pop song – coming across like a Joy Division-esque procession led through the middle class's vague fears of nothing in particular by some crazed skeletal bass-line.

The video is a bit of a letdown though – instead of ripping off the Manic Street Preachers, they should have had people glumly packing their stainless steel desk-tidies into collapsible boxes. DH

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