Fleet Foxes continue to dazzle while new kids Sky Larkin bring sunshine and cheer to Liza Williams‘ Getintothis jukebox.
Fleet Foxes: Mykonos – Single Of The Week
There is no real need for a song to be this beautiful.
All the little details and lilts in the vocal arrangements are wonderful and just as you think the melody is going one way, there is a change of direction.
The band sound other worldly – they always talk about “brothers” as if they live in an ancient proverb or are from another age.
Taken from the band’s Sun Giant EP, the track floats along with harmonies reminiscent of a Neil Young ballad.
Fleet Foxes: Mykonos live at Hi-Dive, Denver.
Sky Larkin: Beeline
Marc Riley‘s new indie favourites have created a perfect pop song that’s bound to inspire some dubious disco dancing.
Vocalist Katie Harkin sings about insects and other oddities, as crashing drums build up to a blunt finish. A new playlist favourite for many months yet I reckon.
Eugene McGuinness: Fonz
This single from Eugene’s self titled second album is so idiosyncratic and all over the place, it almost sounds like he’s got a split personally. I love it. The track has a really fast pace, jumping from high pitched squeels to calm matter-of-fact statements.
And what kind of ace person names a song Fonz by the way?
Mirror Mirror: New Horizons
Am I lost on the set of Flash Gordon, a Bowie video or possibly one of those surreal 80s educational programmes? No? Nevermind. This is modern prog in the vein of MGMT, and I imagine Pink Floyd may have considered suing over the b-side if they weren’t so loaded, but it is wonderful to listen to.
Marmaduke Duke: Kid Gloves
Collaborators Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and JP Reid from Sucioperro use Ashes to Ashes style keyboards for this addictive track from their second concept album.
A more earnest Neon Neon – less talk of Deloreans and more focus on divine intervention.
Banjo or Freakout: Mr No
I didn’t hold out much hope when I read the CD cover, not being a fan of the numerous banjo-freakout cross over artists already about.
But shit name aside, the track is quite unusual. There is something about the timing of Alessio Natalizia‘s distant vocals with the haunting melody that sounds very appealing.
I’m not a fan of the cover of LCD Soundsystem‘s Someone Great as a b-side though, he removes all the feeling that’s so important in the original.
Andrew Bird: Oh No
Begins in a lovely fashion with Kate Bush-inspired strings and gorgeous whistling. The whole thing sounds very intelligent and serious, as the Chicago solo artist muses over arhythmitists (I don’t know what that is), sociopaths and calcium mines.
Shearwater: Snow Leopard EP
Firstly, the band do not sound like they are from Texas at all, until some guitar work on the third track.
The songs on the EP are very beautiful, with vocals coming from what sounds like a Welsh Thom Yorke who lived in 1350- I bet he’s even got a lute. By track five though, I really needed to switch off – it gets a bit much.
Shearwater: Snow Leopard at Empty Bottle, Chicago May 12, 2008
Lily Allen: The Fear
The synths and production on this single remind me of 90s female fronted bands like St Etienne or Dubstar. Lily uses her usual brand of wit to sum up society and its ills, creating another half decent single, but that is all it is.
The View: Shock Horror
All The View’s songs just sound like an indistinguishable mess to me, full of cliches and stupid whoops. This is no exception.
The Qemists featuring Wiley: Dem Na Like Me
Grime star Wiley rhymes Audi, Saudi, cloudy, rowdy and other similar sounding words whilst expressing his love for River Dance and revealing his obsession with expensive cars. It’s bound to be a hit.
Thunderheist: Jerk It
Quite horrific, really. The rather bland electro might not be so bad without the title line, which makes me feel a bit sick. And can someone tell me what electrocrunk boom bap is? Has a new genre been created?
The Bronx: Young Bloods
The LA boys sing about destroying “the old empire”, which is strange because they sound exactly like it. Really, really boring, as their name would suggest.
The Bronx: Young Bloods