Proving they don’t just do insanely catchy novelty baiting pop, the impossibly young Aussie upstarts follow their ‘Song About Ping Pong’ with a string soaked and emotive track that belies unexpected depths to their writing palette. It feels like this track is the starter, whereas ‘…Ping Pong’ was the dessert. All we need now is the main course and we’re laughing.

Proving they don’t just do insanely catchy novelty baiting pop, the impossibly young Aussie upstarts follow their ‘Song About Ping Pong’ with a string soaked and emotive track that belies unexpected depths to their writing palette. It feels like this track is the starter, whereas ‘…Ping Pong’ was the dessert. All we need now is the main course and we’re laughing.

Glasgow’s hottest prospect sound more like they’re the neighbors of Broken Social Scene than any bonnie Scots you can think of. Jaunty, uplifting and multi layered, this major label debut single signals to great things. Currently building up a head of steam via fervent word of mouth, expect this band to crash straight into the public consciousness in 2008. We’ve heard a few other tracks and they all point firmly in the direction of greatness.

Glasgow’s hottest prospect sound more like they’re the neighbors of Broken Social Scene than any bonnie Scots you can think of. Jaunty, uplifting and multi layered, this major label debut single signals to great things. Currently building up a head of steam via fervent word of mouth, expect this band to crash straight into the public consciousness in 2008. We’ve heard a few other tracks and they all point firmly in the direction of greatness.

James Brown might have taken it to the bridge, but the angsty Londoners are taking it to the club. Taken from their sessions for ‘A Weekend In The City’, this electro-saturated disco-maker shows off more of the potential that Jackknife Lee was able to squeeze out of these angular Londoners. A welcome blast of new material that reveals how promising a prospect Bloc Party remain.

James Brown might have taken it to the bridge, but the angsty Londoners are taking it to the club. Taken from their sessions for ‘A Weekend In The City’, this electro-saturated disco-maker shows off more of the potential that Jackknife Lee was able to squeeze out of these angular Londoners. A welcome blast of new material that reveals how promising a prospect Bloc Party remain.

A killer chorus clamps its jaws onto your eardrums and hangs on like a tenacious terrier, clinging to your psyche and point blank refusing to be shifted. It’s like some sort of new-fangled electronic folk style awesomeness, the like of which we’ve never heard. There is also a cracking remix courtesy of hotshot knob twiddler of the moment D.I.M. as one of the b-sides that is a guaranteed dancefloor destroyer. Well worth investigation.

A killer chorus clamps its jaws onto your eardrums and hangs on like a tenacious terrier, clinging to your psyche and point blank refusing to be shifted. It’s like some sort of new-fangled electronic folk style awesomeness, the like of which we’ve never heard. There is also a cracking remix courtesy of hotshot knob twiddler of the moment D.I.M. as one of the b-sides that is a guaranteed dancefloor destroyer. Well worth investigation.

As everyone knows, certain music just fits certain situations. Barry White, say, for that romantic evening in, or perhaps some Nirvana for that class of ’91 reunion bash. Likewise, Gay For Johnny Depp’s ‘The Politics Of Cruelty’ is the perfect soundtrack for that moment when you find yourself suspended from the ceiling in a crocodile-skin harness, a pool ball strapped in your gub, while a leather-clad trucker juggles a hamster dripping with baby oil. Yes, this NY mob put the hardcore into, er, hardcore, conjuring up a sound seedier than Alan Titchmarsh’s dungaree pockets. Filthy guitars slip and slide over the rhythm section’s hip-thrusting grooves on twelve staccato bursts of manly fun with titles like ‘Cumpassion’ and ‘Point The Finger (Juicy’s Last Dollar)’, while frontperv Marty Leopard croons “I love to watch you bleed”. Just zip up that gimp mask and enjoy the ride, kids. The safety word is ‘banana’.

Words_Lee Gorman

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DOWNLOAD: ‘Belief In God Is So Adorable’, ‘Delirium Approaches (Slut Dust)’
FOR FANS OF: Blood Brothers, Drive Like Jehu, The Jesus Lizard

Frightened Rabbit formed in Glasgow by two brothers and first released this album last year by inviting fans to come to their flat, press the buzzer, and yell “album”. That should tell you a little about the way they operate. Like neighbours Mogwai in their early days, it sounds like they’re making music completely outside convention (in fact, it’s possible to hear echoes of Mogwai in the beautiful interlude songs here). Apparently though, this record needs closer attention to grab you than at first thought. “Shit name” said one friend when I excitedly played it to her. “Shit production,” said another, and “it just sounds like modern music,” said a third (mind you, he says that about everything). Music shouldn’t require effort on the part of the listener, but give this album a chance. Even though it’s ‘just’ guitar-driven indie pop, listen to the lyrics, listen to the off-kilter arrangements, and listen to the energy. This is one of the best debut albums in years.

Words_Niall Harden

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DOWNLOAD: ‘Music Now’, ‘Yawns’
FOR FANS OF: Malcolm Middleton, Pavement

It sidles up, whispers some sleazy nothings in your ear and has its sweet way with you. ‘Aaagh!’ by Republic of Loose is a master class in seduction. But, don’t worry, no matter what compromising positions the Loose get you into, you won’t regret it come the morning.

“We’ve all bin working far too hard on dis album for yas, ya basterds”, so mumbles Mick Pryo in the ‘Intro’ before describing the genesis of the title, ‘Aaagh!’ It’s about those “moments of release”, about getting rid of the bullshit that clogs up your brain. Mission accomplished, indeed the Loose could patent this record as a mental laxative so effective is it at getting rid of cerebral detritus. Libidinous rhythms, grinding guitar, slinky keys and the contrast between vocalists, the coy and cute of the backing singers and the sex-saturated utterances of Mick Pyro, it all comes together in one glorious gang bang of sound.

From the title track on, the groove is insatiable, funk and rock groping at each other, the Loose drawing on a palette that includes the likes of Prince, Outkast and Al Green. Throughout Micky Pyro is a captivating presence, an expletive-fuelled Barry White, able to unpick chastity belts with that croon alone. He and the Loose excel at the rough stuff, getting their kinky kicks on the likes of ‘Greedy’, a riot of ribald flow in which our limited loverman’s boastful misogyny is undermined by the confession that he’s “got a small dick, that’s the way God played me.” But the Loose can be sensitive lovers too. Note the tender caress of ‘All Mine’ and the utterly affirming ‘The Idiots’.

That’s the thing about the Loose, there is no default, if it feels good they go with it, the talent of the nine-strong ensemble enabling them to play us all kinds of ways. And when the Loose lay it on you, you’ll know you’ve been laid. Rude and righteous or sweet and celebratory, songs such as ‘Shame’ and ‘You Know It’ are just brilliantly crafted, preening and untouchable pop, songs to make your blood itch.

The single ‘Comeback Girl’ has already made its presence felt in the southern charts and now with the belated UK release of ‘Aaagh!’ and a slew of slobberingly positive press the Loose are ready to extend the invite to the sonic swingers party. You know you want it, now come on, “Loose, Loose, Loose, Loose”. Francis Jones

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DOWNLOAD: ‘Break!’, ‘Greedy’, ‘You Know It’
FOR FANS OF: Sly & The Family Stone, N.E.R.D., Rolling Stones