News Tracks: Crystal Castles, Chvrches, Vampire Weekend And More

It’s been a busy week, what with award ceremonies and Halloween both trying to make plays for your attention. You could even be forgiven for missing some of the best tracks to hit the internet in the last seven days; but no fear, the DIY writers and radio presenters are here with their handy guide. So without further delay, we present; Tracks.

Crystal Castles – Affection
You may have noticed our magazine’s contracted a bout of Canada fever this month. Such is the contagious nature of the Canuck’s music, it seems to have spread to this week’s ‘Tracks’ too. With Toronto based Crystal Castles third album just around the corner, the outfit uploaded new track ‘Affection’ to Soundcloud as a teaser, and it immediately went viral. You see it’s positively infectious stuff as one dose will prove - good infectious, like the friendly bacteria you get in those yogurt drinks. (Ian Paterson)

Chvrches - The Mother We Share (Miaoux Miaoux Remix)
One of the best new bands in Scotland remixed by one of Scotland’s premier producers. It’s a combination that cannot go wrong. Glasgow producer Miaoux Miaoux’s reworking of Chvrches ‘The Mother We Share’ is a joyously ebullient remix. The general framework remains the same but the original’s slightly jittery vibe is brightened up a few colour shades. There is a very pleasing bounce to the fizzy synth pop beats and the whole thing cannot fail to put a smile on your face. When pop works well it sounds effortless and this track is a perfect example of pop at it’s finest. (Martyn Young)

by CHVRCHES

St Deluxe – Evil Dead
Glasgow noise fans St Deluxe celebrate Halloween with a free download of Evil Dead, a track from their second album, Born Into Flame. A typically guitar-drenched, driving and dense slice of old-school grunge pop, it offers the delightfully scuzzy combination of zombie movies and bouncy guitars. It comes backed with their cover of the Spectrum track, How You Satisfy Me, which melds glam rock and shoegaze in a hypnotic tribute to their musical hero Sonic Boom. Born Into Flame is released on December 3rd and St Deluxe play Glasgow’s Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’s on December 7th. (Lucy Brouwer)

Evil Dead EP by St Deluxe

Pile - Prom Song
This four-piece from Boston are one of many emerging US artist keeping the grunge scene alive. From their debut EP ‘dripping’, Prom Song is an instant With elements of Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Bush this is exactly the kind of music I would expect to hear on an American road trip. At five-minutes playing time it’s probably a tad too long for radio playlist, but a thoroughly good musical journey with euphoric peaks and minor-key lows ending in a cacophony of beaten guitars and drums. (Elise Cobain – Alive And Amplified)

Prom Song by Pile

Charli XCX - Cloud Aura (feat Brooke Candy)
It seems that Charli XCX is eternally on the cusp of that elusive breakthrough into pop’s golden mainstream with every passing song and mixtape. Her latest gambit is the ‘Super Ultra Mixtape’ released later this month. The first track revealed from it is ‘Cloud Aura’ featuring LA rapper Brooke Candy. It’s something rather more harder edged than we have been accustomed to from Charli XCX, Candy’s harsh rhymes rubbing up against a direct beat and her wispy vocals. It is an intriguing collision. Maybe not a definitive breakthrough but very interesting all the same. (Martyn Young)

Dumbo Gets Mad – Radical Leap
Man, is this ever a welcome reemergence into the pop fold. Too long absent (2011 is Forever Ago in music years), too long since the release of aquatic-bob-a-long ‘Eclectic Prawn’, but back now, on the always impeccable Bad Panda Records, and to dazzling effect. That North wind may be blowing outside, but this radiates summer, with their trademark wonky organ whirling, repeating, repeating, whirling. Just wait for the rise in oomph a minute and a half in, revel in that sweet voice and thank the Lord, or any reasonably important deity of your choice, for the return of Dumbo Gets Mad. (Dave Rowlinson)

Jeff Rosenstock – Amen
The other day out of the blue Jeff Rosenstock uploaded his first solo album for free download on Quote Unquote Records. Definitely one of the finest songwriters of our time, in my opinion. This video was then soon thrown together and has Jeff really going for it. Powerful, thought provoking lyrics and a great voice to compliment the fact! Brutally honest and clear message. The whole album ‘I Look Like Shit’ is fantastic and available for free here: https://quoteunquoterecords.com/qur061.htm (Cilléin McEvoy)

Jeff Rosenstock - ‘Amen’ from Bryan Schlam on Vimeo.

Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers
It’s been almost three years since we have heard anything new from the New Yorkers, but fortunately, that long wait appears to be nearly coming to an end as they previewed a brand new track for their performance on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel live. ‘Unbelievers’ is a slow building track based on organ and piano rather than jittery guitar. It is certainly one of the most effortlessly melodic Vampire Weekend songs and bodes well ahead of their full blown return in 2013. Also, check out their apposite Halloween costumes and artfully applied face paint. Surely there is no better band to celebrate Halloween with? (Martyn Young)

Captain, We’re Sinking - Let’s Play Kill the Humans
The B side to the new vinyl by Captain, We’re Sinking. Released on Run For Cover Records, it is a different sound to the A side (Montreal) in a great way. A lot softer at times, but still a fine song. Slower and very good use of vocals. Instrumentally driving the song, but the singing again is just taking the limelight and really making the song unique. The band really have a bright future ahead of themselves. New LP to be released in January. (Cilléin McEvoy)