Songwriting UK — Winter 2017

REVIEWS

producers in Chris Shaw (Weezer,
Leonard Cohen and Public Enemy), and
it’s paid off. This could be their best
album yet.

DAVe CHRZANOWSKI

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
WRONG CREATURES
Abstract Dragon Records

The trio of Peter Hayes,
Robert Levon Been and Leah
Shapiro formed the songs that
make up Weird Creatures
during practice sessions and soundchecks,
shaping the sprawling jams into
something more recognisable and often
adding the vocals at the last moment.
The result is an album that will delight
fans of the band. BRMC’s history has
taught us that we want more of the same.
So, rather than sounding like a group that
is idling in neutral, songs such as King Of
Bones and Little Thing Gone Wild deliver a
welcome and familiar blast of energy.
There are also new directions to be
found within the haze. Echo hints at
mid-era U2 and Circus Bazooko is a title
worthy of the swirling Wurlitzer found
within. Most striking though are the
moments where you join the band in
their Spiritualized-induced fog. Longer
tracks like Ninth Configuration maintain
some of their loose origins whilst never
getting derailed.
By settling into this groove, BRMC
have created a reminder of what made
them such a devastating proposition from
the start.

DUNCAN HASKELL

FIRST AID KIT
RUINS
Columbia Records

Thanks to the television-
advert-ubiquity of My Silver
Lining, it feels like country
folk act First Aid Kit have
been a constant presence over the last few
years. In fact, Swedish sisters Klara and
Johanna Söderberg last released an album
back in 2014.
One listen to Ruins suggests that the
intervening period hasn’t been too kind
on the pair. An instant feeling of
melancholy introduces opening track
Rebel Heart. Even its mood-lifting brass
can’t hide lyrics like “nothing matters all
is futile”. That feeling persists on It’s A
Shame and Fireworks. On the latter they
ask, “Why do I do this to myself? / Every

time, I know the way it ends,” further

empashising the heartache at Ruins’ core.

There’s a dexterity to the music which

prevents this theme from overly

suffocating the listener. To Live A Life and

Ruins both start with delicate acoustic

guitar before growing with each passing

line. Hem Of Her Dress breaks out of its

humble origins to become something

stirring - a musical catharsis helping to

heal the sister’s emotional wounds.

>>>>>

duncan haskell

CHARLI XCX

POP 2

Asylum

Charli XCX’s second mixtape

of 2017 arrives against a

backdrop of enormous hype.

The Cambridge songwriter is

now a bonafide pop star and Pop 2

represents a chance for her to own 2018.

Opener Backseat features Carly Rae

Jepsen. After a brooding opening it melts

into a delicious synth-pop number, all

throbbing pulse and raking melodies.

The rest of the record also purrs. Tears

has a moody beginning before morphing

into a deep and pulsating slice of

synth-pop. Delicious is precisely that.

Unlock It is pure twinkling joy and Track

10 hums with electronic loveliness.

Megastardom is near impossible to bet

on, with myriad factors involved in the

morphing of a brilliant artist into one the

pre-eminent musicians of their day. So

let’s stick to what we’re certain of. Pop 2 is

an excellent record.

If it hadn’t been released when the ink

had already dried on most of the best-offs

doing the rounds, then it would figure

close to the top of all of them. Either way,

this darkly addictive synth-pop gem gives

Charli XCX the best possible chance of

making 2018 her year.

>>>>>

DAMIEN GIRLING

SINGLES

THE NECTARS

HEAVEN

7Hz Productions

Mixing the old with the

new; this debut from

New York art-rockers has

all the hallmarks of trashy

70s punk with influences of EDM

and funk. Perhaps not one for the

punk elite, but it’s a modern take on a

classic sound.

>>>>>

dave chrzanowski

DREAM ESTATE

YOU

Independent

The latest track from the

aptly named ambient pop

collective, Dream Estate

is a wash of airy melodies

hammering against dissonant

harmonies. While its watery tones

may sound out of place in winter, it’s

a thoroughly enjoyable song.

>>>>>

damien girling

ELLIOT

TRADE BURGERS 4 LOVE

Icons Creating Evil Art

This quietly oppressive

serving of lo-fi indie is

the ideal setting for a

song about fast food and

apathy. Like its subject matter, this

track is a little greasy and a whole lot

addictive. Ariel Pink comparisons

will no doubt follow.

>>>>>

dUNCAN HASKELL

KYLE CRAFT

THE RAGER

Sub Pop

The troubadour returns

with another soulful tale

of heart-breaking

tragedy. Craft tells his

stories by using simple language to

create detailed images. A talent that

puts him up there with the best.

>>>>>

dave chrzanowski

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Charli XCX