Artrocker Magazine’s Single Reviews for the week commencing September 13th

Silver Columns
Always On
(Moshi Moshi)

Taken from their debut LP ‘Yes And Dance’, ‘Always On’ is the new single from electro pop duo Silver Columns. On first listen, it’s hard to ignore the similarities with much of what has come to be defined by Hot Chip as their own sound; warbling and delicate vocal lines over the top of a chunky synthesised bass.
Yet there is enough in this track to distinguish it as more than a mere imitation. The insanely catchy vocal line (the anger was evident in my housemate’s eyes, as I persisted for days like a broken jukebox stuck on repeat; “always...on...”), and the way that texture is created hypnotically, as the track builds – you know what’s happened, but you don’t quite know how.
The additional support of a b-side remix from man-of-the-moment Caribou, adds to the appeal of this offbeat summer single. Fine stuff.
Simon Bell


Innercity Pirates
Seen It All Before
(Superdark Music)

Next up in the lane marked 'very loud and very angry Welsh bands' are Innercity Pirates. Following on from Future Of The Left and Los Campesinos! they rise from the ashes of a band named My Red Cell.
Whilst they're loud and brash, there is a distinct taste of 'heard it all before' (no pun intended) about it, from the snarl of Russell Toomey's angst-ridden vocal, which ranges from shouty to screaming, to the distortion of the guitars.
‘Seen It All Before’ also has the habit of figuring out how to be angry but in many different ways over three-and-a-half minutes, ranging from jangly indie pop to punk pop and a big “Oh oh oh!” chorus. In short, it's a perfectly acceptable piece of rock, if not much else.
Max Raymond