Jagwar Ma "The Throw" track review

Recently Australia has truly shone brightly with stellar releases from DZ Deathrays, Cloud Control, Pond and obviously Tame Impala. Jagwar Ma has taken this baton and has developed an eclectic sound marrying 60's soul vocals with a dance edge evident on earlier release Come Save Me. They have since established themselves as a strong talent. Jagwar Ma, comprising of Gabriel Winterfield and Jono Ma, have continued in this creative vein on The Throw amalgamating dreamy vocals with tie-dye drenched synths that I'm sure is how a lava lamp would sound if its function was hit singles and not blob production. They begin the track with a refrained loop that introduces the optimistic summer feel of the track as an exhuberant guitar line sneaks in that develops into a sound not to dissimilar from how I imagine the rave scene at Manchester's Hacienda nightclub. The song seems to come to a natural close until Jagwar Ma ushers in a break that doesn't stop delivering swells of synths and even though we're far from Summer it certainly feels as though the sun is slightly closer. It won't be long until Jagwar Ma grow from NME darlings into a fixture in anyone's calendar.

Listen now on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/jagwar-ma

Everything Everything "Cough Cough" track review

Cough Cough is the lead single from Manchester's very own Everything Everything's sophmore album Arc (the track and band so good they decided to name twice). The track splutters into life with indecisive lyrics that pave the way for the staggered drums and smooth vocal melodies that blend effortlessly. The thing that is so special and hard to pin down about this band is their capability amalgamate the wonderfully angular with something seductively smooth, which is evident by the bucket load in this recent single with their static guitars, jumpy synth and drums beating their way through your lug holes all within the first 50 seconds but with a truly luxurious chorus. The unity and precision of the band is truly thrilling and when the verse does give way to the spontaneous soaring chorus we are greeted with lyrics of intrigue about personal compromise for profit, “There's something wrong but its okay if we're still getting paid” whistles singer Jonathan Higgins in his canary pitched falsetto. Something also notable is the pallet of atmospheres they draw into the song with the heavy bassline and repetitive lyrics chanted in the bridge making the bliss of the chorus all the more special showing completely dynamic sonic shift from a band who are truly clicking right now. All there is left to say is that hopefully the rest of the album, released on the 14^th of January, will be as interesting and vibrant as this single.

Listen now on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/everythingeverything

Thee Oh Sees "Lupine Dominus" track review

Thee Oh Sees track “Lupine Dominus” requires playing at full volume and directed straight into the inner most sound receptors of the ears. Its snarling garage-psyche with a savage drum beat that inspires gyration in every limb, sounding like a Flaming Lips tune on furious-fast-forward. The track starts with synthesizers at an alarmingly similar frequency to that of a dog whistle, screaming Gothic organs into life with the drums and bass breaking into a steady groove with wraith like vocals echoing and cooing above the fray. The song feels snappy sharp and succinct whilst it also having the sprawling quality of the vocals to add intimacy and depth, and off kilter moments that demand a second, third, fourth and fifth replay etching the song into the brains of its listeners. The track is also beautifully illustrated by a video in a sleazy strip-joint that seems to blend perfectly with the primal destructive urges the song encourages, exhibited in the eyes of the lust fueled revellers which are drawn to the gait of the dancers. Definitely the most exciting and intoxicating song I have heard in a while, truly one to blow the cobwebs out of many a dingy dance-hall.

Listen now on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/thee-oh-sees