Music, Records, Lauren Mayberry

Micachu and the Shapes: Never

Never say never - strong electro pop release with inventive vocal hooks

(Rough Trade) Never is probably not a word Mica Levi (aka Micachu) uses. Never mix clashing sounds, including what may be a hoover. Pah. Never blend 90s hip hop and classical music (see last year’s Chopped and Screwed, her collaboration with the…

Single of the month: Poliça - ‘Dark Star'

Other releases by Liars, Tribes, Childish Gambino and Hot Chip also reviewed

The pile of pre-summer releases on The List’s doorstep this month was rather intimidating, but here is a round-up of the best (and rest). Liars new track, ‘No 1 Against The Rush’ (Mute Song ●●●), is three-and-a-half minutes of slithering synths and…

Mirror Mirror - Interiors

Brooklyn duo's trippy and downbeat intelligent pop

(RVNG Intl) This Brooklyn’s duo’s penchant for intelligent pop is obvious, with melody always at the fore. While the title track of their second full-length album is more trippy and downbeat than the majority of the record, ‘Sublime Objective’ is a…

Single of the Week: Joan as Police Woman - 'Chemmie'

Charlie Simpson, Howler, Letters, The Last Battle and more reviewed

We are to be assured that Charlie Simpson is well and truly out of short trousers on ‘Parachutes’ (CSM Records ●●●). Lyrically, things have matured past his chart-friendly pop-punkster days and his light rock would perhaps appeal to admirers of…

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Hippy folk for a new generation

(Bella Union) It is tempting to go through Jonathan Wilson’s solo debut and point out influences. Wilson has a rich folk lineage, including production work with J Tillman of Fleet Foxes and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and long-term residence in Laurel…

Metronomy and The Kills among best of this week's singles and downloads

Wu Lyf's Dirt take Single of the Week

Glasvegas, right – they’re not for everyone. But The List don’t believe in hatin’ on your neighbours, so gave ‘Shine Like Stars’ (Sony) a spin. Bummer, though, because the latest single from EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\, may be polished synth-tinged…

The Dodos - No Colour

Grunge-influenced alt.rock from the thoughtful duo

(Wichita) The Dodos were a two-piece, then a three-piece, then a two-piece again (keep up, dear reader). While 2009’s Time To Die was a softer, less frenzied affair, Meric Long’s apparent penchant for the flannel era is well utilised on No Color…

The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh

Quartet's latest album full of poignant intimacy and warm, earthy tone throughout

Following 2008’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, reviewers in their droves compared The Low Anthem to Tom Waits and labelmates Fleet Foxes. Yet, writing the quartet off as a cheap copy would be to do them a disservice. Mixed by Saddle Creek warlock Mike…

Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours

(Downtown Records/Cooperative) Produced by Jacquire King of Only by the Night Kings of Leon fame, Cold War Kids’ third LP shows a more polished version of the Californian four-piece. Their older, minimalist arrangements are replaced by a more…

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

(Rough Trade) The sixth album from The Decemberists is everything you would expect. Full of country-based stylings, the Portland five-piece present a coherent, well thought-out set of storytelling songs, with Colin Meloy’s knack for a lyrical…

Jenny and Johnny - I’m Having Fun Now

(Warner Bros) OK: Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice date. Yet, this old news, mentioned by almost every critic between here and fair Omaha where they met in 2005, shouldn’t detract from their first official collaboration. There are no cloying…