New music guide The Neu Bulletin (24th September 2014)

As well as being a guest on ‘Warm Foothills’ (a highlight from Alt-J’s ‘This Is All Yours’ LP), the distinctively-voiced Marika Hackman is also best buds with tonight’s headliner. She’s joining the band on their biggest headline tour to date, ahead of her own debut album release (due out in early 2015).

Alex Burey - the woozy, guitar-wielding future star that he is today - began as a staple of South London’s grime scene. Shadowing as a producer, he’s since taken the plunge on his own material, debut track ‘Unspoken’ suggesting he’s chosen a wise path. Each overlapping layer collected on this first work belongs in a gorgeous world of its own. Horn sections float over empty space at a snail’s pace, while drifting guitar lines slot into place with perfect grace. Just 19 years old, there’s plenty of time for Burey to make another sudden genre shift, but here’s to hoping he showcases more gems in the vein of ‘Unspoken’.

‘Tools’ is a politically-charged track from NYC duo Yellerkin, the total opposite of antipathy. But despite the message at the heart of the track - that we’re all consumerist suckers slogging away until the next day comes along - Adrian Galvin and Luca Buccellati dress their sweet synth pop in fancy, glittering shades. Optimistic-sounding to the extreme, big contrasts are at play - if it’s a simple, easy-on-the-ear buzz track that’s required, this ticks the box. Anyone hoping for an impassioned message can dig one up here, too.

Tags: Marika Hackman, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin