Plaitum – Ovation

Matt Canham and Abi Dersiley – better known as electro duo Plaitum – apparently forged a childhood friendship thanks to their shared love of horror movies and Massive Attack. Perhaps that’s why their music contains a seedy underbelly that’s vicious and noisy like Crystal Castles but still harbours an alt-pop edge not dissimilar to Purity Ring. The pair have signed to Paul Epworth’s Wolf Tone label and are set to release their debut album ‘Constraint’ on 7th April.

That title suggests they might be reining it all in a bit, but on ‘Ovation’ they do anything but. It’s a thoroughly pulsating beast of a track that isn’t afraid to bombard the listener with squalling synths and feral EDM beats. Of course, you couldn’t have a song called ‘Ovation’ without having some applause in there somewhere, and they deliver by bringing out the handclaps during a slightly more downbeat, quieter moment. Makes sure you catch your breath there though, as it’s the only chance you’ll get within this four minute, thrilling aural assault.