Neu This Week In New Music (1st September 2012)

Neu took its baby steps this week. You might have noticed the change in name and image for our new music section from First On to Neu, but we’re also expanding new music coverage, doing everything in our power to give you as many opportunities as possible to hear your new favourite band. How official did that sound? Shall we round-up this week’s new music happenings instead of boring you with the details of our makeover? Let’s.

We’ve gone a bit gung-ho with exclusives this past week. Southern Shores gave us the longest, most in-depth interview ever to find itself on these Neu pages, detailing everything from their days in Berlin to their struggle to define themselves as part of a scene. They spent a good month or so on this exclusive mix for DIY, we can tell you. Everything about it is perfect. When Frank Ocean comes in with ‘Thinking Bout You’, your heart will do a little pirouette of joy. 

We were also giddy with excitement when new cassette label Twisted Tape Recordings approached us with the chance to premiere the stream of Drop Out Venus’ new, one-off tape. These are the kind of recordings that wouldn’t have seen the light of day were it not for the label’s efforts at giving them a home and a small-scale release. The tapes themselves come wrapped in the (fairly twisted) lyrics of ‘EUI’, and every envelope has its own unique design of venus orbiting the sun. So be sure to invest in ‘EUI/The Pool Sessions’ while you still can. 

Finally, we gave our own verdict on the hype orbiting (while we’re on the subject) around Palma Violets. Those delicious fizzing sweets are finally heading for the big time. ‘Best Of Friends’ wasn’t as sweet or satisfactory as a pack of refreshers. Instead it left us feeling rough, broken and stamped on. In a good way.

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Forrests took us to the edge of the Earth with ‘Tarifa’; easily one of Neu’s standout electronic tracks of the year so far. 

Ghost Outfit declared intention to release their debut album, with terrific new track ‘W A S T E’ heading efforts to unleash one of the darkest, most all-consuming debut albums of future-times. Manchester never sleeps. 

And Father Sculptor, emerging from Glasgow, with connections to Manchester, impressed with ‘Dysmirror’. It’s the last in a series of standalone summer releases, and it’s easily one of their best to date. Expect to hear even more about this band as the seasons change.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
We’re unlikely to run out of positive things to say about Syron anytime soon. ‘Breaking’ is one of the summer’s stand-out tracks, spearheading a nu-garage revival that’s heading right for your doorstep. The video is just as stylish and oozing with cool as we expected it to be. 

Bondax set the pulses racing with their steamingly hot summertime video for ‘Baby I Got That’. 

Astronauts Etc took us up to the stratosphere once more with new track/video ‘You Can Yell’. This guy is going places. Fast. 

DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK
As soon as you wake up thinking anonymity and mystery acts can go do one, someone like S O H N comes along and wakes you up in a sweaty rush. Debut tracks have given us real indication of an exciting new tender electronic pop project, its middle name being mystery, but we don’t care. The music is that good. 

Then came the psych love-in of Temples, a band channelling the ‘70s psych persuasion Tame Impala so crucially continue to master. Perhaps the influence of those Aussie oddballs is finally rubbing off on new music.


FACE+HEEL have gone from strength to strength this past year but ‘Lust’ is the proverbial icing on the cake. Gather everything you thought you knew about vocal manipulation and throw it to the side for three minutes (thanks to Sandra from Cascine for the recommendation):