singles
ÁSGEIR ****
Torrent (One Little Indian)
Despite having Sigur
Ros and Björk as the
competition, the fact that
21-year-old Ásgeir has
the fastest selling debut
album by an Icelandic
artist in their native
land is slightly more understandable upon
hearing the staccato piano chords, excellent
instrumentation and ethereal falsetto that
combine to create a fully-formed and successbeckoning sound. NM
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT ***
In Your Care EP (self-released)
This four-track EP from Bright Light Bright
Light sees the Neath solo artist shift between
sharp 80s electronic melodies and luminescent
nu-disco territory. Traction is found in the blithe
bubblegum pop of Movement In The Dark and
An Open Heart, giving a sense of clarity to an
otherwise workable release. CP
BROTHER & BONES **
To Be Alive EP (Last Step)
To Be Alive is well thought out and performed,
but unfortunately this can’t disguise that for
the main part it is more than a little bit dull.
There is nothing remarkable or challenging of
note, and this lack of anything to rouse genuine
excitement takes precedence over the no doubt
good intentions of Brother & Bones. NM
HAIL! THE PLANES ***
Send A Signal To Me, Love (Shape)
This five-track EP features, for the most part,
a dainty voice pleasantly meandering over rich,
boundless soundscapes created by a large group
of eclectic musicians. Its free-structured songs
invoke a certain poignancy that could result in
you daydreaming aeons away. I wouldn’t listen
to it more than once though… CP
HEIKO LAUX & ALEXANDER LUKAT ****
Lucho Part 1 & 2 (Ovum)
HEIKO LAUX & DIEGO HOSTETTLER ***
Canis Major Part 1 & 2 (Ovum)
Berliner Heiko Lux breaks away from his usual
output on his own Kanzelramt label, and offers
his services to Josh Wink’s Ovum. Lucho Part 1
is eerie techno with an otherworldly breakdown.
Part 2 brings a splash of Balearic. Canis Major
Part 1 is upfront, cheeky tech-house that builds
through synth stabs, while Part 2 is more
stripped back, almost on a minimal trip, and
more about the bass line. RH
HOUDINI DAX ****
Our Boy Billy (The Underclassed)
The new single from
Cardiff’s own Houdini
Dax promises much for
the forthcoming album,
which they need your
generous offerings
to fund. It’s punchy
and bluesy in equal parts and their maturing
attitude has intensified their music and lyrics.
We can all look forward to future material and
performances. JE
LUKE SITAL-SINGH ***
Tornados EP (Parlophone)
The last few years have
brought with them an
influx of acoustic folky
types. Luke Sital-Singh
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