Kicking off this week’s singles we have an interesting little EP from Neimo, four tracks from the Parisian underground with influences that apparently range ‘from The Smiths to The Strokes’. They’re not kidding, there is a chime and a jangle to the guitars that would doubtless make Johnny Marr blink and turn his head such is the familiarity of the melody on the lead track ‘Poison The Chalice’. Mind you I’m not criticising, I did take a shine to the material, that might be to some degree because production duties are handled in places by Alan Moulder (Depeche Mode). There’s a degree of dark sobriety to the second track (‘Peter And The Wolves’) while more modernistic influences come to the fore with the choppy and instantly likeable ‘The Story Of Your Favourite Song’. Neimo have already proved to be something of a hit with the crowds at SXSW in Texas and at an iTunes show in Cannes. On the strength of this EP Neimo could be ones to watch.
Meanwhile Alphabeat return like the indie kids version of Steps, so teeny bop it actually makes the fillings in your teeth scream and every sensible part of me wants to run away but…they’re Danish and everyone knows music from this general geographic location has strangely hypnotic qualities (Ok that’s not necessarily a fact kids). Still this is very very infectious and to boot it has remixes a plenty to back it up for the clubs and a version of Sam Sparro’s Black & Gold (a la Live Lounge). it’s out on the 25th August.
However knocking everything into a cocked hat today is the new free download single from David Byrne & Brian Eno. it’s been thirty years since these two musical mavericks put their heads together (for the timeless and decidedly spooky ‘My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts’) but this is an unexpected pop gem. Byrne’s voice maintains a familiar youthful elasticity. While their earlier collaborations veered into decidedly experimental territory this is surprisingly radio friendly and is a precursor to their album ‘Everything That Happens Will Happen Today’ which is going to be out on August 18th. Download it now, it’s wonderful.
