Wednesday 10 March 2010

New singles round-up.













Wild Nothing: Cloudbursting (Captured Tracks 7")

Here at Baby Honey Towers we hold up Kate Bush's 1985 masterwork Hounds Of Love as a bold example of pure pop perfection, an undeniably brilliant LP and a totem of absolute genius that should not be sullied by the hands of mere mortals (and yes Futureheads, we are talking to you here). However Wild Nothing's cover of the wonderful 'Cloudbursting' gets a pass. Why? Because it actually manages to out-weird the Queen of Weird herself, being as it is, a wonderfully gloopy, slo-mo-narco version with added drone and sine-wave. Like New Order trapped in a wind tunnel and ripped to the tits on plant food. Or something. Anyway you can listen to it here and order it here.

Sad Dad For Puppets: Again (Cloudberry 7")

I had the lovely Roque (head honcho of Cloudberry Records) staying on my couch for the duration of London Popfest and, upon leaving, he made me a gift of this, the latest 7" from Swedish newgazers Sad Day For Puppets. There's been some debate in P!OP! circles about whether the noiser, shoegaze inspired bands should really be considered indiepop at all, but I've always been a big fan of the genre and 'Again' is a cracking example, trading in the bands Dinosaur Jr-esque live energy for a more stately, elegiac feel. A mini-epic then, and therefore a far better leaving present than a boring bottle of wine. Cheers Roque! Download or order here.

Sambassadeur: Days (Labrador download only single)

This one came out a while back, but somehow passed me by until now. Imagine my delight then upon finding out that 'Days' is probably the best thing that Sambassadeur have ever done. An aching, gorgeous, nigh-on perfect orchestral pop song, with 'Dancing Queen' piano and soaring strings all layered over Anna Persson's astonishingly beautiful vocals. This wouldn't sound out of place on the last Camera Obscura record (or any Camera Obscura record come to that.) Download it from Labrador here. And pick up the LP too if you know what's good for you - it's a corker.

Meow Meow: I Wonder What Went Wrong (WIAIWYA free download)

The latest in Where It's At Is Where You Are's free download singles sees Liverpool's Meow Meow take centre stage. WIAIWYA reckon that 'I Wonder What Went Wrong' sounds like power-pop, Heavenly, All Girl Summer Fun Band and Tiger Trap, and they won't get much argument from me. The B-side is a charmingly evocative cover of Go Sailor's 'Ray Of Sunshine' on acoustic guitar, bongos and shaker, and you can get both tracks here.

The Lodger: Have A Little Faith In People (This Is Fake DIY download-only single)

The Lodger are back. And what's more they're back with a hugely infectious pop gem, with added brass! Sounding not a little unlike Billy Bragg's 'Sexuality' or even the Housemartins at their finest, this is an unashamedly mainstream sounding song, and all the better for it. It's the sort of thing that would have thousands of student union dancefloors shaking up and down the land if this was still 1986, and if this all sounds like a back-handed compliment, then it's not meant to be, 'Have A Little Faith In People' more than transcends it's influences and, if there was any justice in the world, would go on to be a huge hit in the pop charts proper. Download here.

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