Givers - Up Up Up

With an afro-pop feel and jangling guitars, Givers could almost be the rowdy alter ego of Vampire Weekend. Given that they have the approval of Dirty Projectors, as well as producer Ben Allen (Deerhunter, Animal Collective) on mixing duties, the band have some very impressive credentials to live up to.

Debut single ‘Up Up Up’ is plain catchy and lacking in pretentiousness, establishing Givers as more than just a bunch of over-hyped preps. The band’s hometown of Louisiana has a rich musical past full of Cajun folk, gospel, blues and jazz, and Givers’ sound is also an eclectic mix of worldly influences. ‘Up Up Up’ is sunny, cheerful and full of texture, setting rich vocals over constantly evolving percussion, and healthy doses of handclapping and xylophones.

There is also an utterly charming sing-along quality, and you just have to fall in love with the band’s enthusiasm. Much like a cute but badly behaved puppy getting tangled up in reels of andrex and tripping over it’s own over-sized paws, there’s something adorable about Givers’ manic, and seemingly boundless, joyous energy.