Playlouder - Music is the Network

SINGLE OF THE WEEK!

Fanfarlo - 'You Are One Of The Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us' (Label Fandango)

Ah, how Fanfarlo are fast becoming one of our favourite new bands. A PlayLouder tip for 2007, they first won our hearts with last year's 'Talking Backwards', and cement the affair with an excellent new single 'You Are One Of The Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us' on Label Fandango. The track sees Fanfarlo consolidating their sound, a subtly done wooze backing summer excursion brass and Simon Aurell's perfectly hesitant vocals. Indeed, it's increasingly evident that Fanfarlo's brilliance lies in their ability to craft heartfelt pop songs with the most delicate of tools without ever appearing twee, lacking in ambition, or smug. B-side 'In The Trunk' uses the multi-instrumentalism and a soaring melody for something far darker yet even more down-the-line bloody brilliant. An early candidate not only for the longest title, but also indie pop single of the year.
LT

The Long Blondes - 'Giddy Stratospheres' (Rough Trade)

This record would quite possibly trouble Single of the Week if it'd not seemingly been around for an age. In fact it got its first release (and PlayLouder Single Of The Week accolade) on Angular around two and a half years ago, though the reworking has done it some good; it's punchier, it's sassier, it's clearly more expensive, and Kate Jackson sounds ranchier and less coldy than she used to. Essentially it predates two and a half years, the whole sound informed by mid-90s poor person's chic, making it such an old sound you worry the its girth might pop the buttons on that big cuffed shirt. But no matter, it's still a beauty...
JA

2Pac - 'Pac's Life' (Amaru/Interscope)

Pac's Life? What about it? Except it's OVER, y'hear; he's DEAD and, unless his ashes rest in some gaudy urn, by now he's been shat out by many a worm. Ashanti and T.I. might be adequate backing vocalist for this most depressing of records, yet even they can't bring make the dude peek out from behind the final curtain. This is getting as bad as putting the smalls in which your gran let loose her final incontinent blast up in the 'Clothes, Shoes, Accessories' section of eBay.
LT

Cute Is What We Aim For - 'Newport Living' (Ramen)

This punk-pop four-piece have apparently outsold the likes of Panic! At The Disco! and Fall Out Boy in their fledgling state which could well bode well for the future. You need to be of a certain age and mentality to get this. It's neither terrible nor amazing, it just sort of exists, as bands of this ilk are likely to do for many years to come. Unless they really do go to Newport, then they won't last the night.
JA

Tokyo Police Club - 'Cheers it On' (Memphis)

As one gate closes another swings open. Field Music might have gone to the great tractor graveyard in the sky, but Memphis Industries continue to plunder the underground for the sound of tomorrow, and tomorrow is not long away for Tokyo Police Club. Hailing from Toronto, the band pack the sort of ferocity the Strokes only wish they could muster but haven't the heart for anymore. This may not be as immediate as the New Yorkers, and it'll be hard pushed to be as influential, but Tokyo Police Club have enough vim and enough control over the racket they're making to do very, very well indeed.
JA

Wojtek Godzisz - 'Burning Ideals' (Tigertrap)

When the likes of Idlewild, Snow Patrol and Symposium first emerged in the mid to not so mid '90s, they were characterised by their youthful exuberance, their snotty, ripped jeans brashness and lo-fi sensibilities at odds with the prevailing Anglocentric Britpop climes. Since then, the first two have clearly realised that pretending to be 12 and making friends with Bis do not houses in the countries build, and have completed Stalinist about-turns into flaccid mum-friendly indie rock. Now, Wojtek Godziz of Symposium makes a return from an apparently "self-imposed" exile with a new release on the excellent Tigertrap Records. This "exile" seems to have been spent growing an impressive beard and, like his one-time fellow travellers, almost deliberately setting out a more mature sonic stall. Although he hasn't gone quite as far towards mid-lane driver respectability as his peers, Godzisz' debut EP is composed of six tracks of solid, slightly forthright indie rock, accomplished and melodic if, as the title 'Burning Ideals' might suggest, slightly earnest at times.
LT

Annuals - 'Big Zeus' (Ace Fu)

At the end of last year we were constantly being told that Annuals were a raging hit with the American music blogs, those guarantors of fevered A&R interest, a seemingly enviable record deal, and then selling a few records to the same people - see Tapes N'Tapes, Beirut, CYHSY etc etc. To me the problem seems with these acts is that they all drag their ploughs, if not the same furrow, then certainly within a similar field. It's all present-and-correct on Annuals debut UK release 'Big Zeus' - the musical proficiency (the product of lots of space and cheap living), lyrical sincerity, kooky sounds, agonised-over twee song titles ('Ida, My' or 'Misly Coy', anyone?), lovely songs that leave you thinking, 'why?' I mean, who gets moved by this? Hipsters drowning in ennui because their latest spoken word project was poorly received by a bunch of their trust-funded 'artist' chums? Annuals might be endearingly pleasant, pitter-pattering with clever beats, intricate guitar and thoughtful vocals but by heck, I wish they were a little more hardy.
LT

Magic Numbers - 'This Is a Song' (EMI)

Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art the new ideas, Romeo?
JA

The singles reviews were brought to you by Luke Turner and Jeremy Allen.