New Releases - 27th April

New Releases - 27th April

22 April, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
The XX – Crystalised
Young Turks

'Hype' and 'buzz' bring out my worst qualities and make me think of talentless drongos like The Asbos, so I fully expected to spend this week slagging The XX. However, this is a beguiling record, fantastically simple and hinting at the strengths of a great band.

Duelling acoustic guitars and a high electric line support clever lyrical back-and forth between two leads. The guitar work of this band is even better than the vocals – they're genuinely very good indeed! I'm a convert. 4.5/5
JH


The Maccabees – Love You Better
Polydor

This opening track from their forthcoming second album epitomises everything I love about the Maccabees; it draws you in with an infectious guitar hook before building up to an emotional crescendo. Orlando's vocals are just as brooding and resonating as ever, and the lyrics just as quirky and intriguing (on the wet tiles - er, what?).

One thing's for sure - if this song is anything to go by, the album is going to be immense. 4/5
GT


The Emperor Machine – Black Ken
DC Recordings

Oh, if only Kraftwerk had made theme music for '80s TV shows, the world would be an infinitely better place. The theme for Knight Rider was obviously pretty awesome, but if Kraftwerk had been let loose upon it, what a decade it might have been.

Anyway, 'Black Ken' basically sounds just like the Knight Rider theme, with some added Kraftwerk bits. It's brilliant, but without the knowledge that the Hoff is about to drive into view in a black (talking) Pontiac Trans Am, it feels a little pointless. 3.5/5
TJ


Super Tennis – Theme Song
Banquet Records

I love this band, so I wonder if I'm suffering pushy-mother syndrome in my opinion of their disappointing single 'Theme Song'. They could do so much better! Just listen to their other songs!  A misguided choice of single I think.

Where are the truly infectious trademark hooks? Mysterious atmosphere? Humour? 'Theme Song' goes nowhere, is repetitive, and seems to lack that amazing combination of the heart-rending and flippant that Super Tennis have made their own. Just don't let it put you off this otherwise brilliant band! 2.5  
MD


Colour – Unicorns
White Label

So if this song could be any object in the world I think it would probably be an old steam train or Chichester or something. It's all angular and quaint and everything but if you didn't have an interest in trains or pretty southern towns you probably wouldn't bother.

Sounding a bit like Polvo crossed with Saves The Day, it's got some complex guitar bits without being too challenging and cutesy lyrics that aren't too sickly. A pretty solid 'meh'. 2.5/5
DH


Resin Dogs – Peace & Love
Hydro Funk Records

'Play any more reggae and I'll shoot you,' said Dave. Now, whilst the only time I'd have felt justified shooting anyone on grounds of taste was when my university neighbour played first Sting's '7 Days' and then Morrissey's 'Dagenham Dave' for three days solid, Dave's premise, being that, like Ska, Reggae is a genre undone by its own generic parameters, originates in truth.

Fortunately Resin Dogs' 'Peace & Love' doxologises the gods of Reggae in a vibrant manner that has you humming rather than cursing its loving mantra. 2.5/5
JS


Green Day – Know Your Enemy
Reprise

'Do you know your enemy? Do you know your enemy? Do you know your enemy? Do you know your enemy?' This is how Green Day's new single goes. Over and over and over and over. Well Green Day, I've decided. My enemy is bands like you who write boring, repetitive songs that'll be in my head for the rest of the day.

You bastards. Just because you repeat a line enough, it doesn't make it good! 1.5/5
SL


Alexander Robotnick – Obsession For The Disco Freaks
This is Music

Disco has had a big resurgence recently and it's just what we need in these ledge-jumping times. Disco warms the soul; it's upbeat and doesn't take itself too seriously. Unfortunately 'Obsession For The Disco Freaks' is actually a wry tribute to the italo-disco genre that Robotnick was renowned for during the '80s; a euro-trash synthy sound – not my cup of tea.

However, this is undoubtedly a man who doesn't take himself too seriously. Check out 'Can I Have An Ashtray' – much better and the video is hilarious. 1.5/5
EM


Yes Giantess – Tuff N Stuff
Neon Gold

It's hard to put into words just quite how bad this tune is. Like a horribly mangled car accident involving 'Dangerous'-era Michael Jackson, Dire Straits and some nobody just signed up to Kitsune, having to listen to it for a second time pretty much ruined my day.

There's a bit of Afghan Whigs-esque soul somewhere in there, but it's not like a band this musically illiterate would even know about it. Pointless. 1.5/5
MB 


Ironik – Tiny Dancer
Asylum Records

My friend used to listen to the original of this track at free parties, lying on the roof of his car and laughing, while the madness and trance raved around him.

Something tells me he won't be playing Ironik's bastardisation, with its stinking overtures, seedy and yawningly typical video peopled with 'honeys' in lingerie and overproduced R 'n' B veneer. The addition of sleazy, grimey whippersnapper Chipmunk talking about his cock and the sped up Elton John chorus only add to the problem. 1/5
LC


Ah, Ironik - bringing up the rear in our chart with a genuinely irritating 'version'. But you know what? It'll probably hit the Top 10 with Fern and Reggie this weekend... and they'll both think it's brilliant! But they think everything's brilliant. Lucky simpletons!

Hey – why not join our Facebook Group? Or perhaps you'd like to comment on the music or the videos in the comments section below? This week - we've included Spotify links - i.e. to Black Emperor - please let us know if that hacks you off.

Click here to see all London pop
Click here to see all London Indie
Click here to see all London Grime
Click here to see all London live music
Click here for things to do in London.

Music Team