Yay! It's time for another New Releases! Think of it like a browse through your cool mates' Spotify playlists but with less music and adverts and way more moaning.
Spectrals – 7th Date
Slumberland Records
After some interesting allocations of late, it's with joy that I discover my final Spoonfed single review couldn't be more up my alley.
From the label that brought us indie popsters' wet dreams The Pains of Being Pure at Heart comes this mysterious beast, creation of enigmatic northerner 'L'. Frankly, I don't care who he is – this lazy slice of lo-fi, guitar-twanging goodness transported me to a happy place in the grass, watching the clouds drift by above. A shimmering summer wonder. 4.5/5
SK
Olof Arnalds – Innudir Skinni
One Little Indian
Like a back-to-basics Joanna Newsom, Olof Arnalds delivers 'Innudir Skinni' with delecate simplicity. Each syllable beautifully rolls off of her tongue like a golden raindrop dripping from one rose petal onto the next during a refreshing light summer shower.
I could happily listen to her soothing Icelandic vocals all day long, made all the better by the fact I have no idea what she is saying. It's easy listening at its best, especially now I don't have to even try and relate to what she's bleating on about. 4/5
RS
Imelda May – Psycho
UCJ
Imelda May's killer voice jazzes rock 'n' roll up whilst dragging rockabilly into her sassy 21st century style. 'Psycho' gives blues helluva kick, and as that guitar lays down an inviting intro, I get a little excited.
Her roughly polished voice drops in, and paired with a great band we're a-for-away. Lyrics mull over lunatics, but she could be singing about spinach and gravy for all I care – with her powerful, saucy vocals I'd happily listen. 4/5
SC
The Horrors – Shadazzz
Cargo Records
This sounds like a song that could've been in The Matrix and that hardly makes it unique as far as garage band-cum-psych-rock releases go. Yeah, it might have been played as Wooden Reeves kicks out a bunch of Agent Smiths and then looks at his fists like “Whoa!?”
It's definitely boring as heck but it's also so dark that you'd be relieved to hear this over anything else playing on the radio right now. Plus it has a made up word in it. Everyone loves made up words; shadazz, yo. 3.75/5
NK
Chain and the Gang – Priviledge/Detroit Music
K Records
Multitalented artist Ian Svenonius embodies nowadays' American indie coolness at its best and in a dandier way than one Ariel Pink. If the new single of his fourth band Chain and The Gang feels a bit casual, its hooks remain typical of that attitude.
The A-side is pretty unspectacular, but luckily the real hit is to be found on side B with 'Detroit Music', where Svenonius's sense of humour operates over an irresistible '70s soul/funk groove mixed with jubilant American indie-rock messiness. 3.5/5
TC
Lady Gaga – Alejandro
Interscope
Another music video epic from Lady Gaga, who seems intent on single-handedly reviving the medium for art/fashion/fetish fans the world over.
'Alejandro' is a kind of Gaga take on Abba's 'Fernando' – not her best track by some distance, but the video is a magisterial triumph that shits all over anything done by Jacko, Duran Duran or Madonna in the past. There's a melancholic '40s glamour hidden amongst the sci-fi cyber-militarism – quite wonderful. 2/5 (4.5/5 for the video)
TJ
Kylie – All The Lovers
Parlophone
I thought Kylie couldn't get any camper. I was wrong. Gay men will love this song. It's cheesy, it's euphoric and she’s working her disco diva magic.
Then there's the predictably saucy video. There's Kylie lying on top of a pyramid of writhing naked torsos – ooh er! But what's with the white elephants and squidgy marshmallows? Is this some gay symbolism I don't know about?! Never mind, it's got Kylie in it, OMG!!! 1/5
EM
Bit short this week - but with everyboday at Glastonbury, it was bound to happen. Back to normal next week - honest.
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