14 June 2008
Rob McCrae
Young MC, A Fine Frenzy, The Hyenas, The Potbelleez, Ten Kens, Polka Party, Rosalita, Absentee, Like A Thief, The Duke Spirit, The Herbaliser, The Brightlights, Alanis Morrisette
"Sounds like a thrilling combination of Arcade Fire and The National."
Young MC – Bust A MoveNoticeable for the more famous Diplo and his remixes which are surprisingly muted in comparison to Don Rimini’s efforts which fizz along like a spaceship zipping through the galaxy. The music is a tacky nightclub’s VIP room drinking something artificial and blue.
A Fine Frenzy – Almost Lover
Conservative music planners on any dysfunctional family drama decide on this insipid ballad during an incidental scene comprising of lengthy flashbacks of stereotypical young lovers frolicking in the surf before that love turns to hatred and shit. Bland.
The Hyenas – Dirty Little Love Song
The band look like a group of predatory vultures at a squat party coughing out their unsavoury lyrics so lines such as “I’ll dress you up like a little girl” roller skate just a little to close to the truth/their actual dreams to make it uncomfortably unlistenable.
The Potbelleez – Don’t Hold Back
Australia seems to be jetting a steady stream of interesting dance crossover bands (The Presets/Midnight Juggernauts) and this slice of imperious controlled electro is closer to the quality of the latter, a low flying anthem for the summer parties.
Ten Kens - Bearfight
The Fatcat label used to be made up of the sound of a radiator emptying but recently they’ve been adding more tuneful and palatable releases to their roster. This sounds like a thrilling combination of Arcade Fire and The National.
Polka Party – Japanese Haircut
Bands that verge towards the beat backed spoken word are going to be compared to The Streets or some toss rag in a porkpie hat who thinks that skinny jeans equals a friendship with Kelly Osbourne. But this is good, pretty funny in parts, even though they ran out of lyrics.
Rosalita – What Would Your Mother Say?
This achieves the rare effect of not even giving you a chance to gradually hate this track, simply imploring you to from the beginning. This embodies Chas & Dave sophistication and every hateful London band rooting for success.
Absentee – Bitchstealer
Singer Dan Michaelson has mastered the perfect delivery with his gravel soaked voice that sounds like he has been bellowing in a cave for a few years and then told to come out and sing like a mellifluous Bing Crosby on 100 cigarettes a day. Instantly bouncy and likeable.
The Duke Spirit – My Sunken Treasure
Watered down in comparison to the high altitude meteor blasting rock and roll they used to dispense. Enigmatic and aesthetically pleasing front woman Liele Moss normally wouldn’t put her eyeliner stick to this piece of derivative dirge.
The Herbaliser – Clap Your Hands (feat Jessica Darling)
A carnivalesque soul voice lights up this track that ricochets around your head like a particularly exciting fact. The Herbaliser skulks in the background and gives his female mouthpiece the room her joyous sound deserves.
Like A Thief - The Hours We Keep
Lethargic indie led by a female voice of slumber plugging away on a metronomic boring wavelength like a one stringed guitarist tuning up and then going into a rictus from which there is no escape.
The Brightlights – 3
If we ever needed a Kings of Leon band to take part in a global Stars In Their Eyes then Grimsby’s The Brightlights would get the one and only half hearted call because they resemble them like an incredibly eerie simulacrum. Great sounding song though.
Alanis Morrisette – Underneath
Ever since the halcyon days of the nineties when Alanis was talking about blowjobs her particular star has been hoisted so high in the musical pantheon that you can barely aim a critical response at her without it perishing in the ether. This song isn’t bad.
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