New Releases – 27 July

New Releases – 27 July

22 July, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Deastro – Vermillion Plaza
Ghostly International
  
When The Saturdays cover a Depeche Mode song, you know it’s time to start not liking electro-pop, but every time I feel like I can move on, along comes another bedroom producer with some mind-blowing crap that sucks me back in. 
 
Anyway, 'Vermillion Plaza' is nothing short of spectacular. It’s a monolith to Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine rendered in glorious chip-beat. Dammit, Deastro – I just don’t know how to quit you... 4.5/5
DH


Your Twenties – Billionaires
Germs of Youth / Neon Gold 

Summer is here (sort of) and Your Twenties celebrate, singing about love and other such whimsical things! With a chorus that mainly consists of ‘ooo o oo ooo o oo o ooooo’ how can you resist their charm? Simple, chirpy and carefree sums 'Billionaires' up, making it a worthwhile listen. 
 
I also like their cardigans. 4/5
GB


The Wave Pictures – Watching Charlie’s Angels
Acuarela Singles Club

Something of a throwback to the days of c86, The Wave Pictures are sort of like a latter day Smiths in so far as they make down-in-the-dumps indie rock juxtaposed with bitter sweet guitar melodies.
 
‘Watching Charlie’s Angels’ is a case in point. A building, vulnerable, and inventive musing of being dumped and depressed, backed by what seems like a long lost Wonder Stuff tune, it’s a memorial to when indie was actually good. 4/5
DH


Lovvers – OCD Go Go Girls
Wichita

An extremely surprising sound from Lovvers on this track, reflecting American ambitions, it's a lot less hardcore than normal. Which isn't to say it's not great. Just different.

Relegated, distorted vocals and smart lead guitar give it a shoegaze-meets-surfrock vibe and it's definitely the most radio-friendly track they've put out, but it still makes you want to party. What's the song about? You can't tell because the mix is deliberately, and wrongly out of kilter. 3.5/5
JH


MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker
Last Gang Records
 
A disappointing effort from favourites of mine MSTRKRFT. Though they adhere closely to their ethos of producing polished and regimented electro, with flawless production and busy overlapping beats, the vocal overhaul that John Legend applies lets it down somewhat. 
 
The lyrics are simply a list of bland sentimental twaddle. Had they not been sung in such a patronisingly cheerful manner, you’d believe you were at a Sylvia Plath reading. No need to bring your own self-pity, Legend has enough for us all. 2/5
GM


The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
Infectious Records

Producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club etc) has stuffed this band up in the studio. They've always been a tight unit producing dense, enjoyable rock with stadium ambitions, and singer Dougy Mandagi has always liked a bit of soaraway Thom Yorke-style wailing.

The first tracks from The Temper Trap were great and they absolutely rock live, but this song is bland and forgettable. Very good sound and musicianship, but as boring as a Tesco's Margherita. 2/5
JH


Screaming Lights – Volts
Anti- 
 
About 10 seconds into the song I forgot who I was listening to and zoned out. Disappointing. A blatant rip-off of Editors, Screaming Lights’ single 'Volts' isn’t as electrifying as you might expect.  
 
It’s a pretty forgettable song that fulfils the gritty indie requirement, but severely lacks any innovative elements at all. So, if you want doom and gloom, go for it. I wouldn’t encourage it though. 2/5
GB


Architects of Grace – Hot White Sun 
Procesion Recordings

Queens of the Stone Age guitaring: good. Simple drumbeat: good. Joy Division influenced vocals: good. Though it stands to reason that such a collection of musical gems should produce some amazing sounds, something has gone terribly wrong on this track. 
 
Whilst by no means awfully written or badly produced song, I find myself wondering why I am so deeply unattracted to this song. Perhaps because it is so utterly boring. 1/5
GM


Chicane – Poppipolla
Modena Records
 
Do you ever find yourself wondering if a Sigur Rós tune might be vastly improved with a 4/4 beat? Neither do I, but it seems Chicane, peddler of too many cheesy dance hits to mention, has deemed the Planet Earth theme tune, 'Hoppípolla',  worthy of a remix. This should not have been allowed to happen.
 
But it does come with a very ‘moving’ video designed to make you think. Not all black people are scumbags you know. Occasionally they save white people from falling bricks. 1/5
EM


The Twang – Barney Rubble
B-Unique Records

The English man today? Alas ‘tis not the be-blazered gent of yore, so alluring to our foreign cousins. Nope, tweed, moral fibre, co-respondent shoes and jumpers over shoulders – these are all now things of a probably mythical past. Today the English man is a logoed, Carling-swilling fool who watches Mock the Week on Dave and loves the Twang.
 
‘Barney Rubble’ – the new track by the Brummie imbeciles – features plinky plonk summer guitars and, oddly, sounds just like The Kooks. Truly hateful.  0/5
TJ

A Twang song that sounds just like The Kooks? Satan's Trousers! We're not even going to listen to that one. There's a whole lotta rubbish heading for the charts this week, but it doesn't matter anyway as Fearne Cotton will soon die. Please, feel free to comment below, but consider yourself compelled to join the Facebook Group. It's weekly!! Ciao for now

Music Team