Singles
Royworld feature among this week's singles
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Friday, 18, Jul 2008 04:45
Brand new singles releases can either be thrilling three-minute blasts of musical merriment or something akin to drinking a cocktail comprising Marmite and cod liver oil. Let's see what's hot and what's grot with this week's selection including She & Him, Royworld and Crystal Castles.
Single Of The Week
She & Him: This Is Not A Test
Double Six Records; out July 21st
Lovely shimmery summery folk-pop featuring the lilting vocals of Happening star Zooey Deschanel and the enigmatically-named M Ward.
This beautiful song is the first single to be taken from She & Him's debut album Volume One.
Crystal Castles: Vanished
PIAS Recordings; out July 21st
Enthralling electro from Canadian duo Ethan Kath and Alice Glass that mixes Kraftwerk; New Order and Depeche Mode into a fine vision of the future as envisioned by the early 80s.
Royworld: Brakes
Virgin Records; out July 21st
The majestic Royworld return with Brakes, and all is right with the world thanks to their powerhouse vocals alongside lush percussion and guitars.
Brakes is just as memorable as Dust and Man In The Machine but has a glorious emotional hook that tugs at your heartstrings.
Melee: Built To Last
Warner Bros Records; out July 21st
Crikey! I do believe this upbeat quartet from the US have the potential to challenge Royworld thanks to a melody built around vocalist's Chris Cron's craggy voice.
Melee also boast cracking Beach Boys-styled harmonies that power the song along.
Built To Last is from the band's second album Devils & Angels out on July 28th.
Melee formed in 2003 in Orange County and debuted with their Against The Tide EP for Hopeless Records.
In 2004 they released their first full album Everyday Behaviour which attracted the attraction of Warner Bros, who signed them in September 2005.
The band comprises vocalist Chris Cron, guitarist Ricky Sans, bassist Ryan Malloy and drummer Mike Nader.
The Chakras: We The People
Flock Music/PIAS; out now
Sizzling rock from this up and coming Dublin five-piece who are currently recording their debut album.
There's lots of emotion, verve and Emo-edged angst in here but it's fantastically accessible with a definite early U2 vibe.
If We The People is a fair indication of their sound, then we can expect big things from the Chakras.
The Rifles: I Could Never Lie
Sixsevenine; out July 21st
Praised by the NME, the Times and Q, the Rifles have swiped the good time indie pop crown that Supergrass wore so well in the 90s and infused it with a ska/Blur circa Parklife/The Great Escape sense of laddish fun.
A top tune for a night down the pub or for driving to a festival, and it sets the scene nicely for the band's forthcoming second album, due for an October release.
The Rifles have their sights set on making 2008 their breakthrough year.
Matt Costa: Cigarette Eyes
Brushfire/Island; out July 21st
Twenty-five year old former skateboarder Matt Costa's voice and music blends Britpop, folk and elements of Buddy Holly.
And all these factors make for a splendid Richard Hawley-tinged summer hit.
Cigarette Eyes is lifted from Costa's second album Unfamiliar Faces which was released earlier this year.
The single comes hot on the heels of a series of UK dates for the singer-songwriter which included Oxfordshire's Wakestock festival, the Happening festival in Cornwall and Wakestock in Abersock.
Lee Davis