Sunday, 8 July 2012

Choice Cuts: best new releases for Monday 9th July

Band: The Crookes
Album: Hold Fast
Record Label: Fierce Panda


After the success of their debut album, Chasing After Ghosts, in 2011, The Crookes have swiftly returned with their sophomore effort, Hold Fast. Despite co-founding member, Alex Saunders, leaving the band in September 2011, they have been joined by Tom Dakin of fellow Sheffield band, Silent Film Project, to create the new album. With a 50s rock'n'roll edge, both singles, Afterglow and Maybe After Dark, are set to be definite crowd-pleasers at The Crookes' many festival dates over the summer.





Artist: Lianne La Havas
Album: Is Your Love Big Enough?
Record Label: Warner Bros

Since appearing on Jools Holland last year, Lianne La Havas has steadily been gaining momentum to become the new darling of music critics and appear on the BBC Sound of 2012 poll. Her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, is an impressive effort from the 22 year old. The dulcet tones of Gone and No Room For Doubt (joined by Willy Mason for the latter) contrast beautifully with the more upbeat title track, to produce a wonderfully knitted album full of melodic surprises. Lianne La Havas is playing at Rough Trade East on Monday 9th at 7pm, and it's definitely not a set you want to miss. 




Artist: Twin Shadow
Album: Confess
Record Label: 4AD

George Lewis Jr., the man behind the Twin Shadow moniker, has defied what many artists face with the 'difficult second album'. Confess has proved to be a worthy follow-up to his debut, Forget. With the slightly warped sound of the single, Five Seconds, the album has an 80s feel to it that was so synonymous with Confess. However, this isn't to say that Lewis has only stuck to what he knows. His second album is a definite progression from his first, with darker lyrics and a far more pristine sound.





Band: Dirty Projectors
Album: Swing Lo Magellan
Record Label: Domino Records

Returning with their sixth studio album, it's only fitting that Dirty Projectors find their latest effort amongst the elite of the music world. The first single, Gun Has No Trigger, has a certain sophistication which requires little sound-wise to convey front man, David Longstreth's power and emotion. The track is basic, with hardly any instrumentation apart from the driving drum beat, and female backing vocals. This simplicity is common throughout the album, making it perfect listening for a lazy summer evening. 


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