Korallreven
This week’s Singles Club sees Getintothis’ Chris Burgess discover both the most idyllic and the ridiculous that music has to offer.
Korallreven: Limitless – Single of the Week
Swedish duo Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder (also a member of shoegazers The Radio Dept) have produced a piece of minimal techno wonderment with Limitless, a song so breezy that it passes straight through you, ruffling your hair and knocking your wheelie bin over.
With tinkling piano and beats so tight and regimented that they at times sound like a distant marching band, Limitless is taken even further into magisterial territory by Joons’ dreamy, atmospheric vocals and some of the best synths we’ve heard all year.
Limitless is taken from their new album Second Comin’, the follow up to 2011’s fantastic An Album by Korallreven.
Southern: Cool Kid
Following recent tours with Bastille and Jake Bugg, not to mention a performance at Saturday’s Liverpool Music Week Closing Party, Southern have released Cool Kid, a fresh and catchy little indie tune, full of confidence and swagger.
The beauty here lies in the harmonies between Thom and Lucy Southern, whose voices complement each other perfectly, although Thom takes the lead here.
There is quite buzz developing around the Belfast-born Liverpool-resident siblings’ jangly brand of indie-pop, to the point where you would shortly expect them to be on regular rotation on Radio 1.
Pauma: Getting Close
The London quartet of Pauma seem to have a knack for writing ebullient and feisty songs. While not quite as grandstanding as previous single Sink or Swim, Getting Close is a fiery and emotional song.
With a soaring chorus and motoring guitars churning away in the background, the track explodes towards the end, in a crescendo of fuzz and heartache.
Jib Kidder: Dozens
This is another dreamy track; playful and upbeat with floaty vocals from St Louis’ Sean Schuster-Craig. It wafts around like the inside of a cloud, hitting you with an almost childlike, carefree solo then spinning out psychedelically before coming to an abrupt end.
Dozens is taken from Jib Kidders’ debut album Teaspoon To The Ocean, due to be released at the start of 2015. We hope it’s all as magical as this track.
Monogram: Romance
Recorded in a wood cabin studio in the remote valleys of the Scottish Borders, entirely by Monogram himself, Romance is a blisteringly-paced, jittery song.
The singer’s emotions are laid bare against an expansive musical backdrop, rising and falling as it goes.
Ariel Pink: Black Ballerina
Not quite sure where to start with this one. Taken from the LA-based songwriter’s tenth album Pom Pom, this seems like a strange track for Pink to release after recent accusations of misogyny against him.
A distinctly 80s New Wave vibe runs throughout the song, and its distinctly unsexy lyrics (“I like your areolas…maybe”) make the whole thing an uneasy listen.
The new album features collaborations with Jason Pierce and rock and roll wild man Kim Fowley, which suggests brighter and better thought-out fare than this single.
Gravenhurst: Bluebeard
Celebrating a decade on Warp Records, Gravenhurst are back on tour playing their 2004 album Flashlight Seasons in full.
A hauntingly melancholic tune, Bluebeard rolls along masterfully, singer Nick Talbot showing why he’s considered one of the best songwriters in the country right now. His vocals are delicately laid over threadbare guitar that, despite being on the repetitive side, never outstays its welcome, as warm harmonica is added to the mix.
Eyedress (feat. Georgia): When I’m Gone
Eyedress is Filipino 24-year-old Idris Vicuña, bedroom producer, who works on a laptop handed down to him by his father. Having recently supported the likes of Jungle, Grimes and Mac DeMarco, I think we can reasonably guess that he’ll be buying a top-of-the-range Macbook pretty soon.
Spacious and chilled, When I’m Gone is a lusciously arranged track, and the accompanying video – showcasing Vicuña and a large stuffed tiger, somehow fits the trippiness of the whole thing.
The Lost Brothers: Spanish Reprise
Another case study for Irish duos with Liverpool links, The Lost Brothers formed in the city in 2007 and have since collaborated with the likes of Richard Hawley and Brendan Benson.
Spanish Reprise is possibly the most chilled out song you’ll ever hear, conjuring images of idyllic countryside scenes and brass bands of yesteryear. A close contender for Single of the Week.
Their new album, New Songs of Dawn and Dust, was recorded in Liverpool too and was produced by Bill Ryder-Jones. They’re actually back at the studio on 17 November 2014, when they play Studio 2 Parr Street.
Kiko King & Creativemaze: Cramps
Starting with a stuttering bassline and atmospheric synths, the song takes a while to get going, before hitting you full in the face with its clanging beats and inspired, resonant vocals.
The track is taken from the Berlin-based electronic duo’s EP – Intellect Illuminated, due for release in December.
Mefjus: Suicide Bassline
We weren’t even going to review this one and only included it because they’re called Meff Juice!
Turns out it’s not a bad piece of doom-laden drum and bass. Who’da thunk it?
