New Releases - 24th May

New Releases - 24th May

19 May, 2010
by: Music Team

Whooooa! Watch out for the sweary Canadians.

Holy Fuck – Latin America
Young Turks
 
‘Latin America’ is the title track from the new record from Holy Fuck, the Canadian lo-fi electronica band that has often seemed to struggle at converting their immense live sound to record, until now, that seems.
 
Less dark than their live performance, the addition of a dedicated bassist and drummer to the duo results in a much richer sound. Taking off into new space, the band has obviously not only mastered converting their immense power in the studio, but grabbed it by the balls and given it a good shaking. Polaris Music Prize nominations just around the corner… 5/5
RM

Dreadzone – Gangsters
Dubwiser

An anagram of Dreadzone is 'A Dozen Red', which is probably their drinks rider these days being that they are a little more mature than the average band. With age, however, comes experience and wisdom and after 25 years of performing together there a few better live bands.

This single from the new album, 'Eye on the Horizon', is a musical sneer at wannabe gangsters and is a typically eclectic fusion of styles with a strong message. If any one band truly represents multicultural Britain at its best it's Dreadzone. 4/5
TO

Fuck Montreal – Winter Mange
Stumparumer Records

I always thought Montreal was one of those blandly pleasant places that wouldn't elicit any particularly strong reaction, either positive or negative. Well obviously not. Fuck Montreal must have some rather powerful feelings for Canada's second-largest city, but whether it's hatred (“Fuck, Montreal!”) or love (“I so wanna fuck Montreal”) remains unclear.

What is clear though is that 'Winter Mange' is a cracker: dark, ever-so-slightly menacing garage indie, over which Jenna Empey whispers and shrieks, a little like a less mental (French?) Kap Bambino. 4/5
TJ


Kurt Vile – Square Shells
Matador

Proving that EPs are not always half-arsed collections of fillers designed to keep the fans happy until new album time, Kurt Vile’s ‘Square Shells’ is a look at the singer's more experimental side.

Far more richly produced than a lot of Vile’s previous back catalogue, 'Square Shells' is a seven-track journey through his more ’dreamgazey’ side which explores themes like friendship, loss and loneliness through sunshine melodies and a heck of a lot of tape echo. Basically, it’s Kurt Vile, but not as we know it. 4/5
DH

Active Child – Curtis Lane EP
Merok Records

'Wilderness', like its fellow tracks on Active Child EP 'Curtis Lane' is synth-heavy and sombre. You can almost imagine it was conceived in an abandoned church, in the middle of nowhere, at night, Pat Grossi's falsetto vocals reverberating off the masonry.

In fact, Grossi does have something of the choir boy about him. Choral, melancholic, dreamy, there's even a bit of organ and harp thrown in on tracks like 'When Your Love is Safe' and 'She was a Vision', and when is that ever a bad thing? 3.5/5
LR

Pint Shot Riot – Nothing From You
Lifeinthebigcity

It's an indie rock thumping from the get go, exuding upbeat and feel-good rhythms. The lyrics, well, they're quite inspirational really; revolution and all that. 

Reminiscent of a teenage anthem, the indie-driven drums and bass save it from immersing itself in lyrical cheddar – relief. The last minute of the song chants: "We don't want nothin' from you, so you might as well take it back" seven times consecutively! A tad unnecessary – I do despise odd numbers. 3.4/5
SC

Seahawks – High Tides/Astral Winds
Static Caravan

Out of the Café del Mar school of ambient beach beats comes this debut 7” from a psychedelic duo of Cornwall-based artsy types. Not being a big chill-out compilation fan myself, I'd be inclined to dismiss their sonar beepings, astral whirrings and soft flute and guitar samplings as painfully dull elevator music.

However, their clever pre-summer release date means I'm forced to give them a couple of points purely for conjuring up the image of lying prostrate on a deck chair in a lounge bar on a Croatian harbour, mojito in hand. Mmm, mojitos. 2/5
SK

Detroit Social Club – Prophecy
Polydor

For several reasons, Detroit Social Club recall the most embarrassing hours of Brit Pop: a frontman that describes himself as a "vibe creator", a NME-nurtured hype that started two years before any album got recorded and an over-produced stadium-rock sound.

Prophecy, the first single of their latest LP, surprisingly starts on an encouraging note thanks to discretely pounding drums that carry an Arcade Fire-style echoed choir. But that soft psychedelic vibe gets ruined as the song sinks into some bombastic heroic-rock territory when the chorus comes up and the singer gets into a Gallagher-esque vocal trance 2/5
TC

The Cheek – Just One Night
Polydor

Formally Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds, the band have gone for the punchier band title The Cheek. I rather preferred the former. Never worry though, it was rather a mouthful. 
 
Back with more indie pop, the band bring us catchy, radio friendly ‘Just One Night’. I’m sure all the Club NME goers will absolutely love dancing their brogues off to it but it just doesn’t quite catch my attention. Choruses repeating themselves over and over are – in my opinion – better suited to the indie dance floor. You won’t find it on my Spotify playlist. 1.8/5
SRC

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Music Team