Neu The Neu Bulletin (Fake Laugh, Teen Ravine, God Colony & more)

Fake Laugh’s been a Neu favourite for some time now, but he’s never sounded as confident in his abilities as he does on ‘I Made A Sound’. From that introductory “yo”, right through all manner of shimmering, sunny-day instrumentation and romantic sentiments, the not-so-slacker-pop prodigy’s quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.

“I don’t know why I’m on your side - tell me how I can get to you?” Japanese Wallpaper sighs before ‘Cocoon’ blooms. Talk of tied up tongues sits atop a shimmering pop backdrop, that inquisitive mind giving the Australian superstar in waiting a How To Dress Well-esque innocence.

There isn’t a pairing around more exciting than God Colony and south east London rapper Flohio. Earlier this year, ‘SE16’ proved the latter’s bars to be as gold as they come, and while she’s on equally 10/10 form this time around, it’s God Colony’s production that takes the spotlight. Impossibly accomplished, it sounds lifted from lightyears ahead - a breathtaking glimpse into the future of London’s ever evolving rap and electronic scenes, and a bridge between the two like never before.

Boasting former Hindsights frontman Benio Baumgart at their helm, Sibling’s joyous pop-rock might arrive just a tad too late for the summer it was born for, but it’s a fitting change of the seasons that they find themselves born into. Masking their discontent with choppy hooks, it’s a fizzy-pop refresher that washes away those gloomier thoughts.

Like a sunnier Wild Nothing, Teen Ravine’s melancholy pop arrives fully formed on ‘Friend Of A Friend’. “Loneliness is a state of mind,” he shrugs, glistening synths and handclap percussion perking up proceedings, before a 1975-baiting saxophone solo ties the whole thing up in a golden ribbon.

Drenched in delay, Bloxx’s ‘Coke’ is like a parallel universe whereby The Xx record solely in their garage. Rough-edged and yet somehow silky smooth all at once, it’s the wearied lyrical reflection on a disintegrating love that really sticks.