5 September 2008

Duffy – Stepping Stone
You know what she sounds like and this is no different. Inoffensive dinner party soul. This is one of her slower more heartbreaky numbers. It’s pleasant. It ticks the boxes. It doesn’t really do much else. It’s not as good as ‘Warwick Avenue’. If you like her you still will. If she leaves you cold you’d best put on another layer. She ain’t gonna go away soon.

Datarock – Computer Camp Love
Originally out a couple of years back but worth another release. This gloriously daft slice of unashamed electro kitsch spoofing ‘Summer Loving’, chicks with dicks and the legend that was the Commodore 64 is the most fun thing in the pile by miles and for that is NN’s pick for single of the week

Jason Mraz – Make It Mine
Jerky summery pop for the end of another disappointing summer. He’s not gonna trouble avant-garde publications like The Wire being about as leftfield as Crowded House but this jaunty brassy concoction is pleasant enough to soundtrack footage of fit and healthy young people riding around in open top cars.

American Music Club – All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco
Mark Eitzel has been sulking on the stairs of the party that is the US alt-rock scene for so long now that he’s grown a huge beard and big bags under his eyes. Highly praised in the early 90’s for his acute rendering of the human condition in weepy tones, he’s kept right on down that path and even sounds a bit Radio 2 now. This is all minor key sadness – like Jason Mraz in reverse.

Ian M Hale – Greetings From San Francisco
Well, the City by the Bay is being an exceedingly good host this week! While Eitzel’s welcoming gets a bit ponderous at times, Hale’s greetings seem much more upbeat. Plenty of good stuff on this six track EP the highlight being ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ - pleasantly diverting glam-pop stomper with Hale’s engaging voice nice and high in the mix.

Brendan Campbell – Pirate Song
Aaaarrrggh! Pirates again. What is it with fucking pirates? This is not unpleasant though. More summery pop. Little to distinguish it from Jason Mraz or anyone else doing this kind of thing.

Gentleman’s Agreement presents Stretch Carter – The Rabbit
Bizarre slab of dark house with a geezer intoning “this is purely for the ladies in here this evening” over the top of it. Our assumption is that the title refers to a popular form of vibrator. Perhaps they sampled one or something, musically we mean. Anyway, the original mix is all rather pointless but the Cassette Jam reworking is a vast improvement. All rough edged slamming beats and ‘yeahs’. Like old school bigbeat, but effective.

Sister – Lovers Of Today
Magnificently bouffanted singer Gemma Banks leads Sister (who all live together, like The Monkees) through this catchy 80’s influenced pop-goth outing. Would be a good support act for The Long Blondes. That is neither an insult nor a compliment.

Sisters Of Transistors – The Don/Pendulum
Ex-808 Stater Graham Massey returns with his new project – an all female keyboard foursome. It’s a soulful house banger. Slightly over polite perhaps but not a bad stab.

Black Daniel – Say Hello/It Gets Cold
‘Say Hello is a rather fetching retro pop nugget which manages to sound like OMC and Wreckless Eric at the same time. That’s a positive thing. Honest! ‘It Gets Cold’ ain’t bad either bridging the gap between Earl Brutus and Kasabian – if that sounds like your sorta thing!

Levelload – HND in RNR
Fairly uninspiring female voiced indie rock seemingly about nothing in particular. It’s not that it’s terrible, there’s a nice tune and all that. It’s just that it’s been done before – and better – hundreds of times.

Exlovers – The Ruins
Winsome shoegazey indie pop. Non-fans of the genre, of which there are legion, may not enjoy but here at New Noise we think it’s a good note to sign off on. Bye bye.