NEW MUSIC: WILD BEASTS - WANDERLUST

In a whirlwind 24 hours, Wild Beasts have unveiled a new album, single and a smattering of tour dates around the world. 'Wanderlust' is the lead single and first track on 4th LP Present Tense, and it denotes yet another shift in the Wild Beasts sound. The sonic DNA is at its essence the same; Hayden Thorpe's idiosyncratic vocals stretch out into the lower end of his register while Tom Fleming's soar in the background, and the relentless rhythm section is a comforting ever-present. There is, however, as in the Beasts' whole back catalogue, a sense of the Darwinian to be found in 'Wanderlust'; guitars are shed like a skin in favour of powerful, cutting synths that build to a crescendo as Thorpe warns "Don't confuse me with someone who gives a fuck". Present Tense is, as the band put it, an album about "headspace and consciousness"; 'Wanderlust' is the triumphant cry of one who has mastery of these concepts. These thematic concerns bring to mind a little snippet of Shakespeare:

                "O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and
                count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that
                I have bad dreams."
                                                                              Hamlet II.II.265-7

It remains to be seen whether bad dreams will appear on Present Tense alongside the infinite space of 'Wanderlust'. 

Preorder Present Tense and check out the new tour dates here

NEW MUSIC: BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB - CARRY ME

Bombay Bicycle Club premiered a brand new track on Radio 1 last night entitled 'Carry Me' and, to use a technical term, it is a stonker of a track. The dancier tendencies present on previous album 'A Different Kind Of Fix' and stand-alone track 'Beg' are explored even further on 'Carry Me', resulting in fragmented yet bouncy rhythms and a central hook that sounds like an inverted, alternate-universe version of 'Glad You Came' by The quartet have announced a new record for February 2014; off the evidence of 'Carry Me', let's hope they start as they mean to go on. 

Check out the interactive video for 'Carry Me' here 

NEW MUSIC: WILD SWIM - NEW DAWN

A band tipped for big things in this blog's 2012 review, Oxford quintet Wild Swim have been gathering their creative energies ready for an imminent studio hibernation, the fruits of which will be seen in 2014. In the mean time, the band have given have left a Hansel-and-Gretel-esque trail of aural goodies for fans to feed on. The latest of these offerings, 'New Dawn', follows much in the footsteps of previous singles 'Echo' and 'Another Night', further establishing the Wild Swim sound. The track is characterised by Richard Samson's caramel vocals, effervescent piano and a kind of effortlessness that one does not often hear from a group of lads who have yet to celebrate their 21st birthdays. A triumphant look into the future both lyrically and musically, 'New Dawn' bodes well for the much-anticipated debut album.

'New Dawn' is released on 21st October; check the track out below.

NEW MUSIC: TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - CHANGING OF THE SEASONS

On the back of announcing a new EP and a headline show at the O2 Arena, Two Door Cinema Club premiered the EP's title track 'Changing of the Seasons' this evening on Radio 1. Produced by electronic artist Madeon, this track indicates a change in direction for the Northern Irish trio, but it is unclear whether this new direction will prove fruitful. All the trademark Two Door elements are here; the lilting guitar riffs and smooth vocals are present and correct, but the electronic presence sounds as if it has been messily placed atop everything else and left alone with an "it'll do" attitude. The attempt to change direction is commendable, but change for the sake of change is not; in this case the phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" springs to mind. 

Two Door Cinema Club

2012: TOP TRACKS

Here are my picks for the top ten tracks of 2012, although it's more of a collection than a chart because I am rather loath to order what are all pretty spectacular offerings. Also provided are the accompanying videos in all their (probably) HD glory, ranging from anarchic newsreaders to bedroom fanatics. 

Inhaler – Foals 

You’re Early – 2:54

Echo – Wild Swim

Higher Ground – TNGHT

Gallop – Tall Ships

Hips and Lips – Maximo Park

Ghosts of Holloway – Lone Wolf

Cough Cough – Everything Everything

Arguing With Thermometers – Enter Shikari

The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES