James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
Released June 4th
Another chapter in the book of populist Chemical Brothers singles, this continues the moronical repeated vocal and trudging bass of ‘Push The Button’. Considering that the aforementioned single went to number one you would be forgiven for thinking that this is what the Chems do best, but this is surely not the case. The cheeky groove of ‘The Bouncer’ from the previous record has all the sing-along factor of a vocal that is throwaway rather than stupid, and early tracks like ‘Elektrobank’ hit the right tone for dancefloor bass. However, the commercial success of ‘Push The Button’ means that this is the way forward.
Released June 4th
Although there does seem to be a trend for titles requesting repetition (the chorus to this single even includes the repeated entreaty to ‘do it again’) that is where the similarities with The Chemical Brothers end. Following the abrasively titled ‘Fucking Boyfriend’ the LA two-piece are releasing their second slice of quirky summer pop. Starting out with the spitting image of an Imogen Heap vocal, the single soon portrays a less experimental but more beat-based attitude - something more obvious on album track ‘Because’. Hopefully that means that The Bird and The Bee will find a place in your heart next to Miss Heap.
Released June 4th
Annual’s debut single plays on the quiet/loud aesthetic that served ‘fellow Americans’ The Pixies and Nirvana without descending into the primal scream that defined grunge. A thinking man’s Nirvana, then? Or even ‘prog-grunge’? Well, maybe, but definitely closer to prog of the Flaming Lips variety than grunge. It even gets a little anthemic at times - then ends suddenly, like hearing the rumble of a train only to realise that it’s a massive length of industrial carriages that pass with a suddenness that betrays their subtle entrance. The press release describes it as ‘positively hypnotic’ when played live, something that you can experience for yourself if you can get to London, Birmingham, Bristol or Nottingham this week.
