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This Week's Single Reviews

• 21st Jun 2012

Whilst I still cry into my cornflakes every morning over the loss of Top Of The Pops, one of the greatest tragedies of the digital takeover is the decline in single coverage. That's why I've taken it upon myself to trawl through our mailbag this week and do a quick-fire burst round-up of the latest releases hoping to claw their way to the dizzy heights of the charts.

Some were great, some were merely good and the less said about a few the better – but that's why I love the single. The instant love/hate relationship you can develop with a song in the first 10 seconds, or after the 3rd listen or after you've thrown the CD out of the window in a fit of despair, wringing your hands and crying to heavens “WHY?! Why would anyone make this and then send it to me!?”.

Onwards…

Paul Weller – Birthday (I refuse to subject you to it)
Not content with the size of his already hugely inflated ego, our man from The Jam has covered The Beatles’ classic ‘Birthday’ to celebrate dear old P-Mac’s 70th. Attributed as a mark of respect to Macca, this dated sounding version feels oddly like that kid who comes to your birthday party and blows your candles out for you.

Leika – Remote Control (No stream available, thankfully)
There’s a touch of ‘Careless Whispers’ about this London based quintet’s latest release. With a promising start, things soon go awry when an oddly operatic vocal appears that seems completely at odds with the music. Unfortunately for Leika we will be reaching for the ‘Remote Control’, but just to turn this one off as soon as possible.

Jakwob – Electrify

The first single from his debut album, ‘Electrify’ looks set to secure Jakwob’s already high profile entry into mainstream radio. At the forefront of the experimental post dubstep scene, he’s part of a group of producers making cutting edge dance music that the next generation are lapping up. A chilled out, understated party soundtrack.

Chiddy Bang – Ray Charles

We liked Chiddy when he first came out and this release has just cemented his place in the favourites list. This is party music at it’s best, with a soulful gospel chorus, blues piano and hip hop beats – infectious and feel-good without tipping into obnoxious. Certified banger.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Pictures

This is another beautiful release from the man with the golden voice. If you’re enjoying the new wave of Brit-folk then ‘Pictures’ will be right up your street; a haunting, melancholic, finger-picked song that threatens to break as delicately as it was made.

General Fiasco – We’re A Crowd

General Fiasco’s debut album was a breath of fresh air with some huge pop songs that we had on repeat for months, so we were interested to hear what their new direction would sound like on this latest release. Imagine a more mainstream Vampire Weekend crossed with The Strokes and you’re halfway there. With a big chorus and interesting ideas, this is a promising first look at new material.

Andy Burrows – Keep On Moving On

You remember Andy Burrows right? The talented one from Razorlight who wrote that exceptionally good first album? Yep that’s him. He stepped out of that shadow long ago and continues to prove his own worth with this release sounding like Eleanor Rigby era McCartney at his best, shot through with a savage guitar solo courtesy of We Are Scientist’s Keith Murray.

Metronomy – Everything Goes My Way

The third single from their Mercury Music Prize nominated album, this is a dreamy lo-fi release with the sugary sweet vocals of Roxanne Clifford of Veronica Falls drizzled carefully over the top of the beautiful, night-time quiet of the backing track. Part of us misses the insanity and unpredictability of the old Metronomy, but who are we to stand in the way of progress?

D/R/U/G/S – Connected

One of the breakthrough success stories of recent years, working on remixes for Lykke Li and Crystal Fighters amongst others, this latest release is a master class in modern tech house. Electronic music fans will enjoy the subtlety of this track with its carefully plucked samples and old school rave keys, taken from the forthcoming new EP of the same title. Remember kids, drugs are for mugs.

Said The Whale – Lines (Listen here: link)
Taken from the EP ‘New Brighton’ released in November, ‘Lines’ has a beautifully mo-town bass line that drives the whole song forward until a clever rhythm change evokes Belle and Sebastian. Said The Whale somehow manage to sound utterly timeless on this release, with a classic slant to their song writing and recording style that makes them hard to separate from The Chiffons, Dire Straits and a host of others that are brought to mind by the melodies on display here.