Features Tracks: Arcade Fire, Ducktails, And More

Greetings intrepid music hunters! It’s been a busy week for new music, as always, and we’ve plenty of that, hand-picked by our splendid team of scribes. The ‘done thing’ seems to be covering other band’s stuff, so we’ve got a few covers for you too, along with a dreadful pun on one of our writer’s names. Feast yer ears on this treasure haul:

Arcade Fire - Reflektor

‘Reflektor’ doesn’t sap out all the energy of the 70s, nor does it really pay a direct ode. Guitar lines hit a tightly-wound groove, but this is just about the most conventional ‘disco’ nod within the 7 minute track. Once it hits the halfway mark, horn sections that could go all ‘Night Fever’ instead sound dark and gruesome. Butler begins to bark some stream-of-consciousness stuff about “being a reflection of a perfection”. Only a casual “ahhh” gives the game away that he’s not some ravaged nutjob on a rampage. It puts the ‘Freak’ in Rick James’ Super Freak’, the bite in ‘Billie Jean’. If this is indeed “fire in the disco”, it’s the sound of complete carnage, a dancehall burning down. (Jamie Milton)

Ducktails - Honey Tiger Eye

Matt Mondanile has had a prolific year. Real Estate are teasing the release of their much anticipated third album, whilst Ducktails released ‘Flower Lane’ earlier this year and are set to release the EP ‘Wish Hotel’ next month. So it is safe to say that he has been busier than a Bondi Beach lifeguard plucking rubbish swimmers out of the dangerous backpackers rip. ‘Honey Tiger Eye’ taken from the forthcoming Ducktails EP is truly splendid, with gorgeous guitars and psychedelic synthesizers that will melt into a lovely gooey treat for your ears. Just like all of Matt’s work, it evokes the feeling of crisp autumnal days. What a clever git. (Samuel Cornforth)

Lapalux - Gold (ft Jazzy Grez)

Essex based producer Stuart Howard, aka Lapalux, certainly knows how to build an atmosphere. His earlier works glided along like glitched Dilla beats on a warped vinyl - but over the years his sound has progressed into something of a more complicated beast. Accompanied by a foreboding short film directed by Nick Rutter, Howard’s latest - the hauntingly beautiful ‘Gold’ - is the perfect victory lap following his incredible debut, ‘Nostalchic’. Featuring the damaged textures and anxious synths he’s built his name on, ‘Gold’ distantly follows in the footsteps of the similarly forlorn ‘Without You’. What’s so different about ‘Gold’ however, is its overwhelming sense of dread - it’s easily the darkest material Howard has crafted yet. Aided by Jassy Grez’s disconsolate vocals, the John Carpenter indebted ‘Gold’ is a slow burning Lynchian nightmare of a track, recalling a once forgotten memory that continues to linger and decay the mind. (Joe Price)

Joel Harries - Hold On

One of the many highlights of the new ‘Refrains’ EP from Northampton’s Joel Harries; ‘Hold On’ sways and lilts with heart-felt laments and flourishes of plucked guitar. This late night lullaby is one of the many in the back catalogue of Harries. He is a multi-instrumentalist and a player in many a band, and he’s one of those people that will frustrate you with how talented he is. Soon you’ll learn to forgive the guy when you hear what beautiful music he makes. (Jack Parker)

Refrains EP by Joel Harries

Yuck - Age Of Consent

Recently Yuck covered New Order’s ‘Age Of Consent’ during a live session at RAK studios. It provides a nice chance to see their new axe man Ed Hayes (Look at that hair) in action and shows Johnny Rogoff trying to replicate Stephen Morris’ machine-like drum beat. No points for guessing that Yuck turned their amps up to the max and pedal stomped their way through the post-punk track taken from ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’. However, you may have not predicted such fruitful rewards for their work, with the sludgy noise sitting ever so attractively over the robot rhythms. Compared to ‘Rebirth’ and ‘Middle Sea’, it is this cover that possesses the trademark sound that Yuck hit home on their self-titled debut album. (Samuel Coverforth)

Son Lux - Lost It To Trying

With Ryan Lott’s material as Son Lux, there’s always been a sense that he’s capable of much more. His solo material on his last two albums have been teetering on the cusp of greatness, which makes ‘Lost It to Trying’ feel like the release of a momentous build-up, as a full realisation of what Lott is truly capable of. The elements that featured so prominently in his earlier work are still here, they’re just tuned a whole lot finer. Featuring vocals from folk pop duo Lily & Madeleine, ’ Lost It to Trying’ is bolstered considerably by outside forces, seemingly invigorating Lott to reach his full potential. The thick baritone saxophones, wispy flutes and impellent drumming all come together in an unexpected and graceful way. If he keeps this calibre of work up, then we’re in for something special indeed with his third album, ‘Lanterns’. (Joe Price)

Fuzz - What’s In My Head

Ty Segall deserves a medal for his services to garage rock. The workhorse caught many off guard in August with the release of his acoustic focused album ‘Sleeper’. But fear not, Fuzz are here to provide an onslaught of menacing fuzz and give everyone their fix of gnarly face melters. ‘What’s In My Head’ sees Charlie Moonheart take on the Sabbath-esque riffing duties, whilst Ty smashes the drums and yells the vocals, this epic beast toys with sexy slow riffs that become overpowered by a heavy climax. Now, where is that medal? (Samuel Cornforth)

Waxahatchee - Misery Over Dispute

Imagine writing your innermost thoughts and feelings onto your bedroom wall with permanent ink. All the things you hold most dear, sitting right next to the stuff you’re most afraid of. Then imagine calling all your friends and inviting them over to gaze upon it. Scary thought, eh? But we’re not done yet: then imagine taking the wallpaper down and touring it around the world – showing people who you really are, night after night in front of a group of strangers. It doesn’t take long to hear this level of beautiful honesty in Waxahatchee’s song writing. From the less-is-more approach to instrumentation ensuring the focus is kept on the lyrics, down to the truthfulness in her voice – there is something endearing yet brutal about her music. ‘Misery Over Dispute’ is no exception. Although it definitely resides in the darker side of her repertoire, it’s a straight to the point, 1 minute 46 seconds of grungy-folk brilliance. (Joe Dickinson)

Kurt Vile - Guns of Brixton

Kurt Vile doesn’t come across as a punk, so him covering The Clash’s politically charged classic ‘The Guns of Brixton’ may come as a little bit of surprise, because let’s face it with his shaggy hair, laidback persona and hazy songcraft he couldn’t be further away from an expressive individual that has a thing for loud and aggressive music. However, the reggae influences that shine through this song are much more up Kurt’s alley; we could picture him sprawled out in a hammock indulging in that sort of lifestyle. And typically he adds a nonchalant twist to this hit, despite him and his band following The Clash’s tried and test formula, the drawling vocals and guitars are ambled out lethargically compared to the snarling original. Kurt shows you don’t always have to be angry to get your point across. (Samuel Coverforth)

Bearfoot Bewarde - Trellum

Though everybody knows math rock has its roots in hardcore, it’s still rare that you find a band with quite the percussive dedication of Bearfoot Beware to the aggression of their genre luminaries. Coming across like Fugazi with dashes of melodic indie rock, ‘Trellum’ treads a fine line with its genre-blending, but ultimately comes up rather excellent, especially in the tapped bridge sections. The video is a lot of fun too, and it’s nice to know that such shouty dudes still don’t take themselves very seriously. If you like math, and you like punk, well look no further because this is ace. (Alex Lynham)