NEW ALBUMS: AUGUST 17TH

So, there seems to be a fair few new albums coming out all of a sudden, I almost can't keep track of them all! So, here is my brief verdict on some of this weeks new releases....

First up we have the return of electro wizards 'Simian Moblie Disco' with their second album 'Temporary Pleasures'. With a list of impressive vocal preformances, (featuring the frontmen of 'Super Furry Animals', 'Hot Chip', 'Yeasayer' and of course Beth Ditto of 'The Gossip' Fame) the Duo blast through 40 minutes of glistening synth driven melodies and minimalist electro beats. Tracks such the infectiously groovy 'Audacity of Huge' and the laid back, hazy synths of 'Bad Blood' create an atmostpheic yet retenlessly catchy party record. (7/10)

On the subject of dance music comebacks, Scottish electro producer 'Calvin Harris' also makes return this week with another stellar set of electro-pop-disco-funk gems in the form of second album 'Ready For The Weekend'. Opening with the groovy electro stomp of 'The Rain', you know that this record is gonna be full of bangers. Using his distintive retro, 80's flavoured sound, Harris also introduces europhoric techno sounds on this record, which has helped to create one of the singles of the year (I'm Not Alone) and with tracks such 'You Use To Hold Me' and the utter funk-pop brilliance of the coke-ad featured 'Yeah Yeah Yeah La La La', this is a record that is bound to get your hands in the hands whether your at the festival, in a club or gate crashing a house party. Granted there are few filler moments on this record, as Harris brings out the acoustic guitar it attempt for some more chilled out moments, which, in all honestly, seems to ruin the mood that the rest of the album has so wonderfully created. But luckily, theres enough bangers on here that demand your attention, so do as your told and turn them up LOUD! (7.5/10)

But if straigght up electronica isn't quite your thing, how about a bit of british indie rock? After two years since a buzz decended, London based power trio 'Pull Tiger Tail' have been patiently waiting for their debut to be released, and as a result have decided to release the record, play a few shows to support its release and to thank the fans then split. This is a massive shame when you actually listen to 'PAWS' as this has massive potential to launch the band into bigger and better things. The album opens in epic fashion with lots of 'woo's', delayed guitars and crashing drums in pulsating electro feel of 'For No One'. The record then swiftly moves into the timeless indie rock pop gems that are previous singles 'Mr 100 Percent' and the gloriously uplifting 'Lets Lightning'; its crime to think that this record had been ignored for two years! Elsewhere theres the glokenspiel tinklings of 'Air Born' which offers a slightly darker tint to the record, the harmonius chorus of 'Even Good Kids Make Bad Sports' and the distorted bass punch that rocks the fuck out of album standout 'Animator'. I've recently read of various blogs and forums that, because this record has taken so long to come out that it doesn't really stand up to some of the records that British bands have been making recently. But, personally I feel that this record still sounds a vital and a fresh as it would of two years ago, and Pull Tiger Tail have the tunes to back them up on this constistantly good record that makes the break up of this band a big loss to the indie world! (8.5/10)

RECORD OF THE WEEK:

The XX - XX

This is the debut record from london based quartet 'The XX'. What grabs me about this about record is how minimalistic and atmostpheric the album sounds which is beautifully produced by the bands very own beat-maker and sample-head Jamie Smith. The use of dubstep style bass, trip hop inspired beats plus reverb heavy guitars give this album a sense of space which particually applies to tracks such the eerie 'Fantasy' and the gorgeous indie-disco shimmer of 'Night Time'. The other main aspect of the record is the incredible vocal preformances of long term friends Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. Their sultry, soulful vocals work together in prefect harmony to create the glorious soul-pop tones of tracks such as 'Islands' and 'Basic Space'. This record is moody, edgy and dam right beautiful, It's one of the most unique sounding records that you will hear all year and bascially, you need to hear it! (9/10)

Download: Islands / Night Time / Basic Space

(I wrote this all in one take, excuse me while I pass out!)

All these records can be bought off iTunes or in all good record stores! Apart from 'PAWS' by Pull Tiger Tail, which gets a pysical release on September 14th but can be downloaded on iTunes NOW!