Singles - April 2010

Japanese Voyeurs - That Love Sound

The latest track from our favourite post-grunge crowd is edgy yet strangely endearing, more laid back and dynamic than the out-and-out fuzzbomb attack you might have expected. That Love Sound is like the best bits of Throwing Muses, The Pixies and The Distillers blended together and packs in a killer chorus between Romily's uncharacteristically soft vocals. Spot on production values for too, huge and rough around the edges with a great live feel. Like lots already, and liking more all the time.

Breed 77 - Zombie

Yes, that Zombie. This may be the first - and last - time you'll hear a Gibraltan metal/flamenco fusion band covering the Cranberries. I have a lot of time for Breed 77 becuse I think they manage to blend a lot of diverse influences into a good, solid sound but in all honesty they probably didn't need this as a single. It sounds decent enough musically without doing anything you haven't already heard, but steamrollers the subtlety of the original song with vocals that just don't fit. It'll definitely work played loud in the clubs, but is maybe not for connoisseurs of either band.

Detroit Social Club - Kiss the Sun EP

The last time I reviewed a DSC single I thought that they had potential but needed to crank things up a few notches, and now we've got a four new tracker on hand to see if they have. Mix the drama of The Boxer Rebellion with a smidge of The Cult, and you'd probably get close to opener Kiss the Sun, but even though you'd get the sound, you wouldn't get the magic - there's just something missing. Black & White heads towards Primal Scream's more Rolling Stonesy moments but lacks the punch to carry it off. Never Too Late to Try is far more promising with a paranoid and sparse feel, revisiting those Boxer Rebellion comparisons. The final track, Thousand Kings, goes and blows it by just not knowing what it wants to be and sounds a bit too much like a confused rugby anthem in the chorus. There's still potential there without a doubt, but one out of four is dangerously inconsistent.

Cosmo Jarvis - Crazy Screwed Up Lady

I like Cosmo, especially like the way he constantly surprises and refuses to stick to any sound for more than one track. This bizarre and hooky little number is from his debut double album Humasyouhitch/Sonofabitch, and the only thing it has in common with any of the other 17 tracks is that it sounds like cosmo and nobody else. This is a blessing, as this young Devon based multi-instrumentalist is rapidly evolving into one of the sharpest, most endearing and intriguing talents in the UK. It might not be the strongest track on the album but it is a good one, and reinforces my view that the dude is a genius hiding behind a goofball veneer.

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out

Hip Hop meets Space Invaders from Sarf Laahndahn's latest grime prodigy. Pass Out has a very distinctive UK feel, quieter and more subtle than the usual US stuff. That said it still puts across the same 'look at all the things I've got that you haven't' message that's getting a bit tired now.. especially when instead of going on about planes and mansions, he's talking up his sunglasses and iilluminated mirror. The guy has a sharp sound and a decent voice but I'd like to hear him doing something more positive with it. And lose the autotune - seriously.

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

This pretty much has all the hallmarks of a predictably bad 90s dance track - autotuned vocals, housey keyboard stabs that sound like they've fallen off the back of Alphaville's tourbus, and a one dimensional doofdoofdoof backbeat. It's not terrible by any means, but it's derivative to the point where you're convinced you've heard it before. You probably have to be a fan.

Kate Nash - Do Wah Doo

Unashamedly retro pop with a Happy Days twist from the lovable mockney that kicks off like a mix of the Surfaris and the Primitives, but then descends into cringeworthy lyrics that Pam Ayres would be jealous of. It's bright and happy enough but don't expect any substance to get your teeth into.. which you may already be gritting to get past the chorus and the faux-coy Essex girly vocals. Save it for the beach, it'll work perfectly there.

AFI - Beautiful Thieves

God, these vocals are terrible and not at all what Davey Havok is capable of. He wibbles about far too much and seems to be aiming for half Morrisey, half Dave Gahan whilst managing to miss both. This is a shame because the rest of the song is pretty good, musically very sharp and melodic with plenty of drama. There's enough in it to be promising but Davey's uncharacteristically weak performance would make me suggest giving him a chance and checking out the album before hearing this single.