Soko and Ariel Pink are sounding like the Human League, Mumford
and Sons are sounding like Coldplay and M.I.A. is sounding like PSY. It’s equal
parts smiles, equal parts frowns this week.
THE BEST:
‘Wild Frontier’ – The Prodigy
Party hard and love animals. This seems to be the message of The Prodigy's latest three singles, all of which have come accompanied with anti-poaching themed music videos. 'Wild Frontier' is the latest track from the UK rave veterans and contains some speedy 8-bit bleeps followed by a monstrous drop that has all the exciting flavour of their early output.
‘Lovetrap’ - Soko ft. Ariel Pink
‘Be my merman/I want
to be your mermaid’ sing indie pop artists Soko and Ariel Pink on this
sappy eighties-style ballad. It seems to embrace the cheesiness of the decade, coming across as both a parody of groups like The Human League and a tribute. It suits both Soko and Ariel Pink's personas perfectly.
‘E A R T H’ – UV Boi فوق بنفسجي
~
This creative electronic instrumental is the handiwork of Australian
producer, UV Boi فوق بنفسجي ~
(the Arabic squiggles translate as 'Ultraviolet'). Abrupt audio cuts and heavy
usage of the windows sound effects seem to be two of the producer’s quirky motifs.
He’s definitely got a style all of his own.
THE WORST:
‘Ali/spinks’ – Sun Kil Moon
There’s a worryingly whiny quality starting to develop in
Mark’s vocal tone and the stream-of-consciousness lyrics aren’t nearly as
charming here as on previous songs, although I have to say the use of electric
instead of acoustic guitar is exciting and refreshing. It’s positively ‘beer commercial rock’.
Listen to the track here at NME.
Listen to the track here at NME.
‘Believe’ – Mumford &
Sons
I’ve never liked these London folksters, but at least their
old sound was somewhat original. Now they’ve turned into a watered-down version
of Coldplay, minus the brief explosive guitar solo which is the only
half-decent moment on this track.
‘CanSeeCanDo’ – M.I.A
That loopy synth reminds me of Swagger Jagger. Or Gangnam Style. Either way it’s irritating but not half as irritating as that moany vocal inflection M.I.A keeps using.