Kurran & The Wolfnotes

Like the blimming UN this lot, with all their members hailing from different countries, all based in South West London. There’s the faintest whiff of folkiness here, but it’s like they can’t help themselves, breaking out all over with jangly Marr-esque guitars, and some instantly catchy hooks, with the occasional touch of 60s Californian psych in there for good measure. It’s a bit Eef Barzelay too, which makes me pleased, not just because I really like Eef Barzelay, but also because I really like saying Eef Barzelay. Anyway, yum.

Peggy Sue – Yo Mama

Less awkwardly kooky than Florence, less posed than Kate Nash, and plain more tuneful than Bat For Lashes. I know that’s bundling poor Peggy Sue into a crap bucket of stereotypes, but seriously, listen to it, it’s out of the same damn school and there’s just no getting round the comparison. Peggy Sue used to have a band called the Pirates, and while the backing band may no longer feature in the name, the sound’s still defiantly nautical. Both tracks on here have more than a salty whiff of the shanty about them, which gets he old sea dog in me panting a bit, and the vocal itself manages – just – to stay the right side of fucking irritating and twee. Nicely phrased, in the main.

Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel

Currently being blogged to death this lot, I know, and I feel a bit shit about adding to an already mountainous pile of over-wordy shite about them, so I’ll be quick. This is the nearly-seven-minute-strong opener to this year’s self-titled debut LP. It’s jaunty Afropop that show what would happen if Vampire Weekend just stopped pretending to be a rock band and just shook themselves silly. I’ve always hated the phrase ‘world music’ as it takes all the music produced outside the USA or Western Europe and dumps it in a box – so it’s heartening in some way to see attention directed at a band with little Western influence at all – even if it took Vampire Weekend coming along to get there.

Jamie T – The Man’s Machine EP

I know, I know, Jamie T’s already famous, so me talking about it here is surplus to requirements. It’s a bit good though this record, and I’m a huge fan. That is all.

Codeine Velvet Club – Vanity Kills

It’s Jon Fratelli’s other vehicle, and while singer Lou Hickey has a nice eye for a pair of awesome shoes, and while it’s likeable enough, it’s not really adding much to the greater musical canon, is it? Certainly not in a way that required a whole new band, I wouldn’t have thought. Still, some nice strings, a good dollop of swagger and – as I said – good shoes, so can’t be all bad.

An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump – Buy A Life EP

Christ, what a fucking annoying name. Even its acronym is ridiculous. It’s also named after a painting depicting some Victorian folk suffocating a bird in a jar, so now I’ve got that image as well, cheers. This mob are three-women-strong, and come packing two bass guitars, a drum kit, and more fucking guts and quiet hostility than I’ve heard in some time. It’s as stripped down a sound as you can get away with, but it’s primal and ferocious and unsettling and I love it to bits. They covered Sonic Youth’s 100% on their debut release (ballsy enough – most bands wouldn’t risk going near it) and managed to make it sound even dirtier using less instruments, which is no mean feat. Opening track ‘Silent Hour’ is the strongest on this EP, broody, menacing, filled with equal parts melody and squalling, distorted bass guitars. If you’ve ever wondered what Polly Harvey would sound like fronting The Jesus & Mary Chain, get your teeth into this. Expect to hear lots more from this lot.

Singles & EPs Out This Week That Look Quite Tasty:

EPs

• An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump – Buy A Life
• Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind
• Jamie T – The Man’s Machine
• Loko – In Love
• The Brian Jonestown Massacre – One
• The Northwestern – Ghostrock
• The Time And Space Machine – You Are The One

SINGLES

• Bicycle Thieves – Stop To Start
• Canterbury – Elven, Twelve
• Codeine Velvet Club – Vanity Kills
• Elephants – Alexander
• Erol Alkan & Boys Noize – Waves Rework
• Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel
• Kurran And The Wolfnotes – Whatabitch
• Le Tetsuo – Sometimes I’m Walking Around I Feel Like I’m Going To Open Up And Crack
• Luke Abbott – Whitebox Stereo
• My Morning Jacket / Songs: Ohia – Split Single
• Peggy Sue – Yo Mama
• Presents For Sally – Catch Your Fall
• Spectrals – Spectrals
• The Golden Filter – Thunderbird
• The Mary Onettes – Dare
• Wild Palms – …Over…Time…
• Primal Scream / RTX – I Want You / Nature’s Way