++SINGLE++ review by Mat Beal
Mat Beal grabs a comfy chair, sticks on the cans and gives us the lowdown on this weeks singles - which include the highly anticipated return of Ladytron, and the not so anticipated return of the Dirty Sh*tty Things!
SINGLE OF THE WEEK: PAVILION / SPOILS OF WAR (ALCOPOP)
Pavilion are a four-piece, all-male indie band from the North of England, who seem likely to become “quite big”. Now, come on - get back from the window ledge: ‘Spoils of War’ is actually really good. It’s a big, hurtling, slightly overproduced affair, a little bit Flaming Lips and a little bit Guillemots. We like.
"Personally, I find them dull. I’m sure it’s my loss."
LADYTRON / RUNAWAY (INVICTA HI FI)
The aloof, icy thing has always been part of Ladytron’s charm, and has been put to excellent effect on the likes of ‘Seventeen’. Sadly, for all its synthy polish, ‘Runaway’ just sounds like the work of a band who would rather be somewhere else.
SEVERE ZERO / SILENCE ON THE RADIO (SELF RELEASE)
Severe Zero (aka SevereZero and, worse, Severe:Zero) belong to the noble tradition of fairly crap British punk rock. They get a bonus point for judicious inclusion of the word “radio” in the title, and I’m sure readers of Kerrang magazine will find this pleasant enough.
THE INVISIBLE / MONSTER'S WALTZ (ACCIDENTAL)
Hmm. ‘Monster’s Waltz’ begins promisingly enough—some trip-hop-ish beats, a nice tune and a singer who sounds a little bit like Seal—and then it all goes a bit wrong in the chorus, at which point it turns into a right old racket. It probably sounded good in the studio.
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS / PLASTIC HEARTS (VERTIGO)
Oh, you know. The sound of London’s fashionable Holloway Road circa 2004.
PORTISHEAD / WE CARRY ON (ISLAND)
They certainly do. Like Radiohead and Massive Attack, Portishead are one of those very worthy bands from the 1990s who tend to appeal to earnest types who enjoy making lists of things. Personally, I find them dull. I’m sure it’s my loss.
++ Mat Beal ++
Artrocker rating: 2
