Singles + EPs

Single Review Shorts: August 4-11

[Artist: Skream]
[Single: Hedd Banger / Percression]
[Label: Tectonic #TEC022]

Skream’s prolific production of dubstep releases has slowed down in recent times, though the benefits of doing so are plain to hear. The ribbed synth line and slow skipping beats on ‘Hedd Banger’ are a delightful opposite to the 4/4 techno beats to be found on B-side ‘Percression’, and this alone makes the 12” an interesting piece to listen to—his third release on the Tectonic Label. The bit-crushed samples and deft percussion delays are a welcome step away from his better known ‘Tech Appeal’.

For Fans Of: Distance, Coki, Appleblim
Band Link: Skream
Release Date: 11 Aug
Reviewer: Rich E

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Amazon UK

[Artist: Get Well Soon]
[Single: If This Hat Is Missing…]
[Label: Nude Records]

Konstantin Gropper’s deep vocal, thick with the rasp of Nick Cave and Johnny Cash, yawns into life before being blown out by the sound of harpies chiming “shoop, baby, shoop, baby”. It should be an interesting combination but unfortunately they aren’t happy bedfellows merely creating cacophony when they combine. The track is saved from total oblivion by its upbeat nature and metronomic pace. The rattling guitars and drum claps remain clear here but some of the excellent keyboard musings get lost in the mix which is disappointing, to say the least.

For Fans Of: Okkervil River, Mercury Rev, Calexico
Band Link: Get Well Soon
Release Date: 11 Aug
Reviewer: John Skibeat

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Amazon UK

[Artist: Bloc Party]
[Single: Mercury]
[Label: Wichita Recordings]

Big warping synths rumble over a mechanistic drumbeat whilst Kele Okereke does battle with a barrage of samples. There’s something distinctly crass about this offering from the alternative indie-rockers. It could be the fact that the vocal is chopped and replayed, hammered aggressively at the listener, simply refusing to step down from a blunt shout. This is the sound of a particularly vicious schoolteacher eyeballing you whilst they swish their cane threateningly back and forth. Repeated listens reveal a huge number of subtler layers that barely register beneath the main assault. Listen hard and you will be rewarded - if you can bare to eyeball back.

For Fans Of: The Futureheads, Interpol, We Are Scientists
Band Link: Bloc Party
Release Date: 11 Aug
Reviewer: John Skibeat

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Amazon UK | Amazon US

HMV

[Artist: 51 Breaks]
[Single: Blueprints]
[Label: The Animal Farm]

With introductions that exclusively sound like a clubbers dream, all synths and whirls, 51 Breaks aren’t quite as groundbreaking as they probably would like to think they are. It’s your usual indie fare, lyrics about girls, guitar rhythms that a five year old could predict and simple song structures. They do what they do fairly well, but really do we need yet another band that put fashion sense before music?

For Fans Of: The Cribs, One Night Only, The Fratellis
Band Link: 51 Breaks
Release Date: 11 Aug
Reviewer: Mike Copus

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Amazon US

[Artist: History Of Guns]
[Single: Empty Eyes/But I’ll Be Waiting]
[Label: Line Out Records]

With vocals that sound like Kraftwerk on pills, you can’t help but be grabbed by this slice of industrial fantasia. Although those vocals do develop into a horribly forced shout that is akin to Hitler in speech mode it’s kind of nice to hear someone not trying to sound like Trent Reznor on top of the pumping drum beat. ‘But I’ll Be Waiting’ doesn’t stretch the formula too much either, leaving you with a brief and bizarre experience of robotic guitar strums and vocal effects.

For Fans Of: Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, Laibach
Band Link: History Of Guns
Release Date: 11 Aug
Reviewer: Mike Copus

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Amazon US

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