Supersweet

10 November 2008

The Walkmen

The Blue Route

Label: Fierce Panda Records

Currently the marmite of indie rock, 'The Blue Route' is the Walkmen's first single off new album You & Me. Slowly layering the beats and guitar rhythms with further strings and percussion, this is expansive stuff expressing an unknown grief. Leithauser's calls of "what happened to you?" carefully guide it along as a powerful yet mellow track. Dismiss this with the first listen? Then more fool you. Dismiss with the second listen? Then more fool you, again. - Matt Coxon

School of Seven Bells

Half Asleep

Label: Full Time Hobby

When it’s raining outside and you need a bit of cheering up, instead of reaching for the moonshine, why not try putting School of Seven Bells’ new single on your wireless.

‘Half Asleep’ is the music equivalent of hugging a panda. It’s a blissful number; blurry beepings, melty guitars and lush vocals from identical twins, Alley and Claudia Deheza, combine to create a song which manages to sound like radiant late autumnal sunshine. - Will Holloway

17 November 2008

Asobi Seksu

Me and Marry

Label: One Little Indian

Crashing into a torrent of angelic vocals and sweet trance-pop, Asobi Seksu lays the foundations for their new album with single ‘Me and Mary’. With their name meaning “playful sex”, the Brooklyn Band maintains their psychedelic sparkle in swift twist and turns keeping you hooked for the refreshing ride. Lead vocalist, Yuki Chikudate, gushes lyrics culminating into a soothing sigh ready for B-Side ‘Breathe into Glass’.  Yuki’s siren calls beautifully layer the waves of trickling guitar streaming a unique sensibility that gives us chills for their anticipated return. - Gemma Dempster

Florence and the Machine

Dog Days Are Over

Label: Moshi Moshi

Any track that mentions horses is bound to be good, isn't it? Trampling all over you like a rampant Kate Bush, Florence Welch seizes the reins here and takes us on a blues-folk-rock rollercoaster. With a pounding bass drum, elastic vocals and perfectly timed piano, 'Dog Days Are Over' is a kaleidoscope of quiet and loud moments. Turning what could have been a mediocre track into a small-scale tour de force, this is an impressive folk-rock rock-out from a rising star. Viva la Florence. Viva La Machine. - Matt Coxon

Mercury Rev

Butterfly's Wing

Label: V2

SUPERSWEET has never woken in a morphine-induced trance, having been hit by a lorry. If we had, then it'd probably sound like this. Dreamy and hypnotic, this latest from Mercury Rev is more about atmosphere than discernible songwriting. Ditching the guitars for electronic loveliness, Donahue repeats against an ambient background that he is "…feeling like a Butterfly's wing". Punctuated in the middle by a creepy sample of a child's laugh, the trance like atmospherics of the first half are replaced by a bouncy electro-pop beat for the later. Eclectic stuff. - Matt Coxon

Emmy The Great

We Almost Had A Baby

Label: Close Harbour

Sandwiched in amongst the plethora of young female songwriters, Emma Lee-Moss is the latest London-born singer-songwriter of note, and of note she is. Showcasing a pulp-esque skill at writing about relationships, 'We Almost Had A Baby' is both intelligent and articulate ("I'm not the girl you remember from the start/I was only a baby/Now I'm what you made me"). In comparison to the potentially dark lyrics, the track is melodious and jaunty, swinging around on acoustic guitars, tambourines and strings. Lyrically dark, musically light, keep an eye out for this beautiful beginner. - Matt Coxon

Stricken City

Lost Art

Label: Blue Flowers

At first, Stricken City seems slightly reminiscent of Altered Images, the slightly squeaky vocals, the wobbly bass, Banshees drums and air of kookiness to proceedings. ‘Lost Art’ is one of those wonderful slices of British indie girl-pop that just makes you smile. At least until you listen to the slightly cryptic lyrics; “I don’t wanna be there, when they find out”. ‘Find out what?’ you think. Then you realise that there’s more to this band than sugar and lipstick, though these things are clearly important. - Steve Gislam

24 November 2008

Plugs

Imaginary Friend

Label: People in the Sky

Morgan of Does It Offend You, Yeah? fame takes a little break from the old day job and returns with the second single from his alternative band, Plugs. 'Imaginary Friend' is a little slice of magic they’ve cooked up - retaining  the good dance fodder of the singer’s other band but shredding some of the obviousness. With wonky keys, creepy, almost voodoo like vocals and a trashy, broken drumbeat, this song wraps itself around your head and makes you feel like you’re walking down a corridor of warped mirrors while ketted up. This is a good thing. - Gavin Williams

Liam Finn

Better To Be

Label: Transgressive

Hailing from New Zealand, Liam Finn continues his walk away from his father’s legacy (Neil Finn of Crowded House) releasing another gem off his debut album I’ll Be Lightning. While dominated by the pulsating bass line of keys, Finn’s eloquent vocals take the song in flight swerving to find fleeting guitars and climbing synthesizer. Catchy lyrics "Better to be" mediate throughout the song the search for an answer from the elusive “girl”, teasing the possibility of a conclusion. Sneakily, Finn’s hypnotic words soothe the vague ending ensnaring us in his unresolved content. - Gemma Dempster

The Kills

Tape Song/London Hates You

Label: Domino

It's a sign of the times that a band such as The Kills only appear to gain fame and notoriety within the general populace through celebrityism, as opposed to the genuine accreditation they deserve for their virtuosity.

Their latest release, 'Tape Song', simmers with minimal ticks of lo-fi staccato guitars before contorting and kicking into a calculated maelstrom of vocal spatters and undulating choruses. B-side, 'London Hates You', however has a meditative malevolence of honesty that emanates with its simplicity, and proof that they should be revered in their own right. - Thomas Ward