Plants And Animals - American Idol

Having had their album ‘La La Land’ long-listed for the Canadian equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize this year, Montreal-based three-piece Plants And Animals have put out this latest extract from the record, which takes a light-hearted dig at their neighbours to the south.

‘American Idol’ is a lively sub-three-minute stomp, punctuated by Warren Spicer’s soulful vocals, a dominant saxophone and a bouncy-as-hell rhythm section. There’s a sense of lo-fi contentedness at play during the verses, which quickly makes way for some giddy group harmonies when it comes to chorus time.

Saxophone solos take centre stage for a healthy portion of the track, and it’s fair to conclude that their continued presence accompanies the trio’s usual guitar-bass-drums dynamic very well indeed. With that memorable, glossy pop sheen added to the song’s mix, ‘American Idol’ is a record which stands up well and leaves a lasting impression. It’s an admirable fusion of modern dirt and retro groove.