and Diplo were all over it ). Neo baile appears to be made by Europeans who have kept the reggaeton rhythms and shouting and chucked in yet more air horns and whistles , or by original producers in Rio messing around with some trap tropes . The odd track dropped in a set might be OK but an hour of it is an exhausting listen . SE
singles
APOLLONIA **** Trinidad / Visa Americain ( Apollonia )
Apollonia ’ s two-track EP opens with Trinidad , a warm slice of tech-house with a bassline focus and a calm male spoken vocal telling us that “ something ’ s not right ”. Second track Visa Americain is actually quite similar in terms of BPMs and bass , albeit slightly more minimal and all about groove . RH
CORRUPT MORAL ALTAR **** Whisky Sierra ( Dead Chemists )
Liverpool produced The Beatles , but if you can ’ t stand those bowlheads and think they should go to hell , then these nasty pieces of work from the same town should tickle your fancy . It ’ s antisocial music of the loud , fast and distorted variety that gives you the wonderful feeling of wanting to kick the nearest person in the throat . GM
DEAF HAVANA **** Boston Square ( BMG Chrysalis )
If you haven ’ t heard of Deaf Havana , then you ’ ve possibly been living under a rock for the past year . The Norfolk-based band ’ s latest single shows they have no intention of slowing down . A perfect summer anthem , it should become law that this is played on every road trip you go on . HL
DR MEAKER FEAT . ROMAINE SMITH **** Don ’ t Think It ’ s Love ( New State )
Bristolians Dr Meaker continue to build their playlist ahead of their incoming dance stage headline slot at Glastonbury this summer . This collaboration with Romaine Smith is commercial drum ’ n ’ bass at its finest , staying soulful and managing to avoid clunky clichés . Remixes from Mind Vortex and Jus Now also impress . RH
JJ SNEED FEAT . EMMA HICKEY *** Y Bendith ( Tarw Du )
Despite the name ( yes , I may have judged him a bit ), JJ Sneed knows how to write a good song . The Pontypridd local has teamed up with Merthyr girl Emma Hickey for their latest single , an infectious dance-pop tune that refuses to leave your head upon hearing it . HL
NADINE SHAH ***** To Be A Young Man ( Apollo )
The rising singer-songwriter teases her imminent debut album with this gem of a single . By layering mangled distortion over an otherwise simple acoustic track , Shah produces a dark , foreboding atmosphere , helped out by her sultry , pained vocals . B-side Cannit Leave is softer but still menacing , with a ray of hope piercing the murk . IR
THE REVENGE *** Body Fusion EP ( Roar Groove )
You might be tempted to throw the slick , supple and solid house found on the Body Fusion EP into the driving music category . You might find yourself nodding along like the Churchill Dog . But when the weird alarm goes off on MWI , you might come to on a traffic island , swapping insurance details . SE
STARS & FLIGHTS * Ruin EP ( Ghoulish )
I really wanted to like this debut EP from Neathbased Stars & Flights . They look like a lovely bunch of guys , but despite the friendly-looking pictures on their website , I just didn ’ t enjoy their music . You can clearly hear their influences ( Reuben , Biffy Clyro etc ), but sadly the band don ’ t quite match up to their heroes . HL
THE WILDFLOWERS *** Wild Among The Flowers EP ( MAM )
Wild Among The Flowers opens fantastically . The ear-catching country-cum-alternative intro to the first track is irresistible , as is its immediate consolidation by a remarkably expressive central hook . It ’ s a shame , then , that the EP doesn ’ t really build on its early potential , becoming derivative long before its course is run . BK
demos
BROTHERS www . facebook . com / brothersbandcardiff
These guys have been ... not ignored exactly , but shuffled to the back of my mental queue , on account of their very boring name . ( It is descriptive , for better or worse – the teenage Cardiff quartet feature two Hursts and two Conaghans .) Brothers ’ energetic 60s garage band redux is crucial live viewing , I ’ m told , not least because of their Animal-istic drummer . Their recorded output to date has been afforded a keen and sympathetic vintage-sounding recording , with the sub-two-minute Tiger being the highlight , maybe because it ’ s the fastest and most frantic . NG
BEST LAID PLANS www . facebook . com / bestlaidplansuk
Private Eye ’ s ‘ Street Of Shame ’ section has taught the wise to declare their conflicts of interest whenever possible , so let me quickly point out that Jim , Best Laid Plans ’ singer and guitarist , can often be found writing for this magazine . Even my consistent gratitude for his penmanship can ’ t cajole me into pretending that this trio ’ s laidback , harmonica-honking acoustic roots-rock is my personal dream music . And even that can ’ t blind me to these demos being played with spirit and likeable , unpolished personality . NG
NOT MY FINEST HOUR www . notmyfinesthour . bandcamp . com
Does NMFH ’ s listing of McFly in their ‘ influences ’ suggest that that group have established themselves in the Acceptable Pop canon , or that this Cardiff quartet didn ’ t get the memo about what was Acceptable for a very modern pop-punk band ? They are fairly sunny and lightweight for the most part , as well as indulging their mopey minor chord side , but incorporate chuggy hardcore elements on Lose It . It ’ s currently a bit sloppy and unfocused to be worthy of a Kerrang ! photoshoot where they all pull goofy faces , but time will tell . NG
THIS MONTH ’ S
DVD PICK
BROKEN 15 ( Studiocanal ) In addressing the theme of love in all its many forms , Broken has triumphed where so many films have previously failed . Real , hard , relatable and centred on the tumultuous lives of three neighbouring families in a nameless British cul-de-sac as they come to grips with what it means to love , Broken is an extremely astute and vital piece of writing ; a triumph for British cinema . ***** GL
MANIAC 18 ( Metrodome ) A young attractive girl returns home after a night out find the lights have gone in her apartment . And that ’ s when I started crying . Filmed entirely from the point of view of the killer ( Elijah Wood ), this film is the exact reason why I can ’ t watch horror films – it ’ s dark , jumpy , contains heavy breathing and involves a nutter going around scalping people for kicks . ** AB
MEA MAXIMA CULPA 12 ( Element Pictures ) Significant documentary-maker Alex Gibney follows acclaimed investigations into US torture policy and corporate corruption at Enron , with this pertinent documentary about child abuse in the Catholic Church . The disturbing narrative is well-framed and excellently steered by Gibney to make this a profoundly shocking watch for those both inside and outside of Catholicism . **** GL
MOVIE 43 15 ( eOne ) We ’ re in the presence of greatness . It takes gods to assemble so many stars in a movie as bad as this . Kate Winslet , Hugh Jackman , Halle Berry , Emma Stone , Uma Therman , Richard Gere – all have checked in the worst film they will ever make . Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee , casting directors on Movie 43 , your names will live in legend . No stars MM
THE COLLECTION 18 ( Entertainment One ) When a psychopath disposes of revellers at a warehouse party via a series of gruesome contraptions , Elena , the only survivor , is taken hostage in a trunk . A cat and mouse chase ensues with pumped up mercenaries traipsing around the killers lair only to face more tortuous apparatus and grisly remains of his “ collections ”. Blood , guts , body parts and a lead guy who ’ s Sean Penn ’ s doppelganger . ** EC
THE PARADE 15 ( Matchbox Films ) A Serbian gangster is forced to guard a gay pride march . The Parade ’ s a comedy , but avoids sending up its protagonist ’ s homophobic attitudes : his prejudices are a reflection of the divisions wrought across the Baltic states by 20 years of war . The comedy doesn ’ t excuse the homophobia , but it does try to explain it . *** MM
THE TOWER 15 ( Entertainment One ) Boasting cute storylines and some mad special effects , this is Korean entertainment as you wouldn ’ t expect . During Christmas Eve celebrations at a luxurious skyscraper , disaster hits and floors of people face a fiery nightmare . Once you ’ re done cringing at the clichés and awkwardly comic moments , you ’ ll be tense , teary and terrified . **** HR
TO THE WONDER 12 ( Studio Canal ) Terence Malik ’ s latest eschews many narrative conventions , so watching it ’ s like going for a walk : it ’ ll throw up all sorts of thoughts , but it ’ s not an activity you engage with . Ben Affleck and Olga Kurylenko star as a couple in and out of love , but Jarvier Bardem stands out as a priest low on faith . *** MM
TROPICALIA 12 ( Mr Bongo Records ) For lovers of Brazilian music like me , this enriching documentary about the Brazilian Tropicália movement – which saw a group of musicians form a collaborative cultural protest group against their oppressive military government – beautifully sows together old photographs with found footage and interviews to deliver a musical treat and a heartening tale of collective protest from 1960s Brazil . **** GL
BUZZ 39