News Tracks: Little Dragon, Tom Vek & More

It’s that wonderful time of week again where the DIY writers pick out their favourite tracks of the last 7 days. With new record previews from Tom Vek and Tom Fec (try saying that five times fast) and all manner of other new releases to wrap your ears around, this line-up is almost on par with Nirvana’s newly assembled Lorde x Kim Jordon x Joan Jett x St Vincent ensemble.

Little Dragon – Paris

Think about it for a moment: who does quirky pop better than Sweden? It’s given us the likes of Fever Ray, jj, Röyksopp, and of course, Little Dragon. ‘Paris’ is further proof of why Little Dragon are at the forefront of Swedish Pop right now. Keeping things just as upbeat and colourful as we’ve come to expect from Little Dragon, our latest taste of the upcoming album ‘Nabuma Rubberband’ is considerably more immediate than lead single ‘Klapp Klapp’. Instead of building to a contagious hook of a chorus, ‘Paris’ immediately pegs attention through one of the most delightfully sweet synth lines you’re likely to hear all year. For an act with a name as Little Dragon, it seems wonderfully ironic that they’re coming out with so much fire. (Joe Price)

Tom Vek – Sherman (Animals In The Jungle)

Tom Vek has always done things his way. There was his debut record in ’05, followed by a six year break from music. Then with one glitchy, styled-out disco slide, Mr Vek returned with ‘Leisure Seizure’. Fast-forward another two years, and we’re in ‘Luck’, once again. Tom Vek has been listening to a lot of grunge, apparently, and if this is anything to go by, his third album is going to have a suitably abrasive edge. Confrontational, fast-paced and thoroughly weird, ‘Sherman (Animals In The Jungle)’ holds all the monopoly board hotels, and shows Vek at the top of his game. (El Hunt)

Arcade Fire – Heart of Glass (Blondie Cover)

A problem most bands face when they start out is a lack of original material. Sure, mincing covers from your glorified idols is good fun at first, but pretty soon it not only becomes tedious but also creates fear over how much you look like your bassist’s Uncle’s Elvis tribute act. As per usual, Arcade Fire have turned the tables on this musical statute, due to them seemingly gradually turning into a covers band. On tour, they’ve covered Stevie Wonder’s ‘Uptight’, Prince’s ‘Controversy’, New Order’s ‘Age of Consent’, The Rolling Stones ‘The Last Time’; hell, they’ve even done a version of Boyz II Men’s ‘Motownphilly’. They’ve hit their best cover so far, though, with their rendition of Blondie classic ‘Heart of Glass’, performed at their stop-off in Houston, Texas. Percussionist and vocalist Régine Chassagne takes centre stage, doing a pretty damn convincing impersonation of Debbie Harry’s sultry crystal-clear tones over a crisp backing of saxophone toots and grooving bass. All fingers and limbs crossed for a covers album akin to Bowie’s iconic Pin Ups record. (Kyle MacNeill)

Antwon - Cold Tears

Showcasing his penchant for versatility once again, Antwon has delivered a track that sounds as if it would fit perfectly on Ruff Ryders’ ‘Ryde or Die Vol.1’. ‘Cold Tears’ doesn’t have the same ethereal swirls of ‘Rain Song’; instead it opts for an East Coast bounce. His signature punk-style refrain remains, but there’s a sense of swagger and hostility his music doesn’t usually employ. Whether gothic or gangsta, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Antwon excels in both lanes. (Joe Price)

Dessert - Player

Grown-ups often try to pretend they’re all about sophisticated main courses, but lets face it, dessert is still the best part of any meal. A sweet treat, sprinkled with hundreds-and-thousands, and adorned with side helpings of clotted cream or ice-cream, LA trio Dessert live up to their namesake with sugary new offering ‘Player’. Crisp and buttery at the same time, like a fresh glazed cronut, the hype surrounding this mysterious lot isn’t for nothing. (El Hunt)

The Little Deaths - Daydreamer

Coming on not so strong like your favourite obscure and slightly psyche 60’s group, The Little Deaths are one heck of a find for those who like their guitar music on the obscure side of life. Residing in Birmingham, but steering well away from the limelight, they have been quietly doing their thing for a number of years. This latest single however is set to shed some light on the band, whether they want it or not. Listen up and get on board before your friends claim to of heard them first. (Jack Parker)

Tobacco - Streaker

Venturing through the trail of Tobacco’s progression is a dangerous task. It’s easy enough to follow, but the sludgy grimace of ‘Streaker’ sounds like the end of the line. The deadly fall off the cliff at the end of the path, he’s warned us that ‘Ultima II Massage’ is the resulting corpse, and ‘Streaker’ is its funeral. Punishing his already broken sound into further cacophony, Tom Fec has taken the next logical step as Tobacco. His upcoming album ‘Ultima II Massage’, which is out May 13th via Ghostly International, is due to find him working at his most uncomfortably comfortable. Obviously that’s an oxymoron, but his sound thrives in its anxiety. ‘Streaker’ is Tobacco at his most austere. Featuring the guttural yelps of Notrabel, it’s a warning of what’s to come. ‘Streaker’ replaces the uneasy pop security of initial McGuffin ‘Eruption’ with unbridled antagonism; something Fec has seemingly mastered as of late. (Joe Price)

Total Control - Flesh Kicks

On ‘Flesh War’, Melbourne’s Total Control kick things off as brooding, cold-hearted post-punkers. The synths are grey and rusty, and the mechanical, military precision of bands like Devo and Kraftwerk immediately spring to mind. Suddenly though, they they shift gears - all these intricate elements become widescreen, like the opening shot of a grand sci-fi film slowly unravelling itself, ultimately revealing the bigger picture. The melody doesn’t explode, it chooses to mature patiently instead, and Total Control find themselves modestly soaring to heights of angelical proportions. (Tom Walters)

Daughter- Tomorrow (Live from Air Studios)

If there was ever a band crying out to be assisted by a 10 Piece string orchestra, Daughter are it. This reworking of ‘Tomorrow’ is just one of five tracks re-recorded by the band to form a new EP (out digitally next week), and the use of the orchestra gives light to a track, which on ‘If You Leave’ was dense and dark. Elena’s vocals are given chance to shine here, with the slow, delicateness of the classical instruments rising and building throughout towards a crashing crescendo lasting the final minute. The instrumentation reflects the sadness in the lyrics, bubbling under the surface as the character in ‘Tomorrow’ cries for her lover not ‘to bring tomorrow, as I as already know I’ll lose you’, before the orchestra takes centre stage as the dawn begins in the song. Sometimes when bands revisit their work with an orchestra, songs become overblown and wrought. Not in Daughter’s case. It seems as though their work was tailor made for an orchestra to add that little bit of sparkle to what is already a fine, well-crafted record. (Joe Sweeting)