04 August 2008

by Rob McCrae

The Shortwave Set, Brigade, The Verve, Late Of The Pier, Cut Copy, Panama Kings, New Adventures, Rosabella Gregory, Das Pop, Stalkers, Little Boots, Peggy Sue And The Pictures

"There’s a machine-like momentum and the perfect marrying of guitars and vocals that will soundtrack many a teenage pregnancy."

The Shortwave Set – Now Til “69”
Danger Mouse produces this South London trio on a track that is as happy as a bunch of kids on a log flume, neat harmonies and a singing guitar give it a very simple shine of joy. Some additional little production touches give it an accomplished edge.

Brigade – Sink, Sink, Swim
You can’t argue with the guitar that shoves its way to the forefront of this track even if the execution sounds like we’re programme into generic FM, the night shift. Clean like Lostprophets and almost as forgettable.

The Verve – Love Is Noise
The first single for ten years and an interpolation of the lyric from 'History' but this time we’re talking about sweatshops in China rather than a line from a Blake poem. A powerful and affirming song practically designed for a field sing-song.

Late Of The Pier – Heartbeat
With Erol Alkan on production duties and the band pulling off the perfect silhouettes in the photos there’s a lot riding on this and they don’t disappoint. There’s a machine-like momentum and the perfect marrying of guitars and vocals that will soundtrack many a teenage pregnancy.

Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
An 80s throwback complete with camp as a doily new romantic vocal and a spinning glitter ball practically invading your imaginary vision. Will go down a storm on the kaleidoscope floors of the nearest dance palace.

Panama Kings – Young Blood
They’re from Ireland (but there are no flutes in evidence) and the similarities to Black Kids are overbearing, especially with the yelped vocals which make lead singer Niall sound like he’s singing at gunpoint.

New Adventures – In Our Hands
This is aimed at the people at the back of an arena who can’t discern the band but can just about make out the vibrations of a sing along chorus. You wonder how this would go down at the back of a pub while the barmaid cleans her glasses.

Rosabella Gregory - Water
Rosabella has body snatched Tori Amos and even used her barefoot and piano combo, warbling away as if a toff has just announced that the affair that they started at the horse trials is over. Quite irritating.

Das Pop – Underground
Staring at the thin worthless single cover you think it’s going to be a Germanic travelator into the depths of Krautrock but instead you get some jaunty, strings led fun number that was somehow produced by Soulwax who must have got some really good news on that particular mixing desk day.

Stalkers – In Your Street Today
It’s ok to be influenced by seminal punk bands like New York Dolls and The Stooges,  but not quite as acceptable to submit a homage that sounds like you’re delivering the vocals after a long night driving a pallet truck and you really don’t have the conviction.

Little Boots – Meddle
Despite having a name that can be found at the centre of the twee circle, Little Boots, aka Victoria Hesketh, has a strong voice that intends to be big and poppy but ends up needing someone to file at the edges and make her sound less like one of Girls Aloud doing a solo.

Peggy Sue And The Pictures – Spare Parts
The tightrope that female singer songwriters walk is a precarious one because no-one wants to listen to an extended diary entry. However Peggy Sue has balanced it just right, not moaning too much and having a plangent voice that makes you want to embrace her.

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