Singles Review Roundup - September 14th

September 14th can go down as one of 2009's busiest days for singles. Paloma Faith, Coldplay, Maps, Deadmau5, Moby, F*ck Buttons, Thom Yorke, Florence & The Machine, Speech Debelle and Hadouken to name a few. With much deliberation, hesitation, appreciation and vilification, we have whittled down our six for attention.

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Single Of The Week

Maps – I Dream Of Crystal

'I Dream Of Crystal' truly is a marvel to behold. James Chapman (Maps) has flicked his emotion switch and delivered an electronic insight to a wayfaring mind, and the kind of swinging states induced by pills, thrills and, as the press release states, “chemical stimuli”. With the natural flow of an M83 mood setter, 'I Dream Of Crystal' bursts in numbers for each chorus. According to Chapman, “The tracks for this album never seemed to stop flowing from the day I began working on them”. Which suggest the prospective LP will be one of 2009's surprise underdogs.

Coldplay – Strawberry Swing

A year on and Viva La Vida is still being milked for all it's Brian Eno produced worth. It shall go sour soon, but fortunately, not just yet. 'Strawberry Swing' is one of 'Viva La Vida''s hidden dimensions. An exquisitely crafted reminder that Coldplay's epic stadium rock persona is just one facet of many. The tribal drum beats that highlight last years album continue to run through the veins of this track, but at a reserved and timid pace, beneath high pitched guitar chimes. And unlike previous monumental impressions left by 'Violet Hill' and the title track, 'Strawberry Swing' ebbs and flows with the measured subtleties of Martin's lyricism. The release also coincides with an innovative and inspiring short film by the visual artist team Shynola, which accompanies the track (as seen below).

Speech Debelle – Spinnin'

So the Mercury Awards was a surprise yet again this year. Which I suppose means its becoming predictable. Predictably surprising. Our artist in question, Speech Debelle, took the big award ahead of a reinvented Horrors, an energetic Friendly Fires and an 'insert positive adjective here' Glasvegas. And with all critical eyes on Debelle's first release since the awards, it is perhaps justified that it is one that floats with infectious crowd appeasing melodies, as opposed to her usual barbed quippery. Produced by Mike Lundsay of Tunng, 'Spinnin'' is one of Debelle's rare moments of pure pop. This is the bait that shall hook you onto 'Speech Therapy'.

Deadmau5 vs Melleefresh – Attention Whore

So far this duo of superstar laptop user Deadmau5 and diva (apparently?) Melleefresh has given us two decent songs, one pretty plain song and today's 'Attention Whore'. One could call it an unspectacular union. By the 8th second you've heard the beat drop about as hard as it will, so after that, all we really have to look forward to is Melleefresh's lyrics. These lyrics stutter somewhere between annoying and dumbing, with an awkward, 'too old for this game' Liz McDonald type sex appeal. With the recent airings of the fabulous 'Ghosts n' Stuff', and the intriguing techno direction of forthcoming release 'For Lack Of A Better Name', Mr Zimmerman (Deadmau5) can, and will, do better. Contrary to this opinion, it is still being championed by such luminaries as Pete Tong and Judge Jules, so, no doubt, the veteran clubber who gushes of when “one pill was enough” and “Ibiza used to be much better” will lap this up.

Moby – Mistake

Few doubted the unabridged talents of Moby would fail to produce anything short of superb on his new material. And with an almost patronising consistency, Moby's return to the basics (reportedly rejected a major label offer to seek his own) has resulted in the eerie purity and punching vocal track of 'Mistake'. Hear a remix of this track on our Track Of The Day.

Florence & The Machine – Drumming Song

Florence and her machinery are continuing to carve a delicate niche in to a breach opened by so enigmatically in the past, by artists like Kate Bush and Siouxsie. And its fair to say, there is nothing quite like Florence about just now. Despite the laid bare construction of bellowing drums and quite choral vocals 'Drumming Song' manages to explode in an audacious boom, led by the unmistakable resound of Florence. For those wishing to investigate further, the song has been brilliantly remixed by the prolific beat junkie; Boy 8-Bit. Make sure to check the video, in which the reality is affirmed that even in the most dramatic and expensive of music videos, nobody can run in heels without looking like a modern day Bambi. You can see the official video here, or watch the Boy 8-Bit mix below.