Singles + EPs

Single Review Shorts: 22-29 September

[Artist: The Lazarus Plot]
[Single: Do You Want To Be Someone]
[Label: Illuminated Music]

No offence meant to this band whatsoever for what I am about to say. This single started off relatively well with some programmed, slightly distorted sounding drums, but then the rest of the song made just made me cringe and wince and pull pain faces. The vocals, guitars, and string sections on the single invoke images of shitty TV shows, pop idols, and crooning male vocalists past and present. I am sure someone out there will appreciate the more sensitive side to this single, but I certainly don’t.

For Fans Of: Shitty TV Shows, Pop Idols, Crooners
Release Date: 22 September
Reviewer: Rich E

Band Link: The Lazarus Plot

[Artist: Elena]
[Single: Pink Punk]
[Label: Delicious Records]

In the past, London based female singer-songwriter Elena has been compared to hybrid of Marianne Faithful and Cerys Matthews. There is no doubt that her voice is a smoky blend of both, but that is perhaps where the comparison ends. Elena plays simple and straightforward Gretsch powered rock n roll which should be an interest of any classic rock fan though the longevity of such song writing is open to debate.

Release Date: 22 September
Reviewer: Rich E

Band Link: Elena

[Artist: Lesser Panda]
[Single: Ghost Dance / Carousel]
[Label: Superdark Music]

London based Lesser Panda’s double A-Side Single ‘Ghostdance / Carousel’ has all the indie swagger behind the vocals to keep up with their immediate peers, but also the charm of many others. Their disco beats and simple clean guitar riffs are spiced up with a touch or reverb, delay and tremolo and have an obvious 80s influence over them. 3 remix tracks accompany the single release (remixes by MoscoW, Drums of Death, Heartbreak), which make it exceptional value for money.

The band have also compiled a ‘Vanilla’ promo mix which can be found here.

For Fans Of: Foals, The Teenagers, Joy Division
Release Date: 29 September
Reviewer: Rich E

Band Link: Lesser Panda

[Artist: Mercury Rev]
[Single: Senses On Fire]
[Label: V2/Co-Op]

Mercury Rev’s rainy intro on their new single ‘Senses On Fire’ perfectly mirrors the weather for the start of September. Luckily, the rain stops and what is left is an average track full of distorted chanted vocals and electro-percussion. The phaser effect guitar adds to the crescendo of sound, and before you know it the track has finished. The two remixes on this add a welcome sense of depth to this release of electro space-rock (even if Holden’s remix is slightly annoying), but when you have a three minute slot on the radio, what can you do?

For Fans Of: Muse, Spiritualized, The Flaming Lips
Release Date: 22 September
Reviewer: Rich E

Band Link: Mercury Rev

[Artist: Popular Workshop]
[Single: Reptilians]
[Label: This Is Fake DIY]

Three minutes of spasmodic dicordance. Shouted vocal over misfiring guitars with a sidestep into a stretched one-phrase chorus. It’s not rocket science and it won’t set the world on fire. But, hey, it’s not god awful but neither is it quality single material. Let’s hope the band have kept their cards close to their chest and all the good stuff is lurking on their forthcoming album, ‘We’re Alive And We’re Not Alone’.

For Fans Of: Bloc Party, Good Shoes, The Cribs
Release Date: 22 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: Popular Workshop

[Artist: The Laurel Collective]
[Single: International Love Affair]
[Label: Double Six Records]

Comprising members from Wales, England, Nigeria and Italy, this London-based band have a debut mini-album to promote so here we have ‘International Love Affair’. It’s a combination of walking bass and twinkling keyboard which draws the outline allowing the dual vocal of Martin Sakutu and Bob Tollhast to do all the colouring in. Together, they softly warble their way through the track whilst all around them a chaos of effects spiral and wind. It’s strangely mesmeric but falls short of being addictive. The Micachu cover that follows is a strange hybrid of rap, dub and sampled mayhem - it’s on another planet… I mean, out there, man.

For Fans Of: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse
Release Date: 22 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: The Laurel Collective

[Artist: You Me At Six]
[Single: Jealous Minds Think Alike]
[Label: Slam Dunk Records]

My research spies have tipped me off about these lads. You Me At Six have just collected a Kerrang! Award for Best British Band and are just back from the festival circuit, apparently, so this new single to promote their forthcoming album ‘Take Off Your Colours’ should be blowing my socks off, right? So why am I not feeling the love? Well, with an interestingly mighty warping guitar dropping off into an emotional, half-croaked McFly-esque vocal I spot the problem early on. Yep, this is about as mainstream as it comes - your mother might actually like this. There’s the generic drop-out into picked acoustic guitar with accompanying mewed outpourings and then there’s the inevitable slow fade at the end. Nay, nay and thrice nay.

For Fans Of: Furthest Drive Home, Go:Audio, Tonight Is Goodbye
Release Date: 29 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: You Me At Six

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