Single Reviews for the week starting 21 March

A.Human/La Shark
Take Me Home/I Know What You Did last Summer
(So Darn So)
* * * * *

In many ways this is indeed a golden era for pop music. It's just that, er... you're not hearing any of it on your radios. That's right! The golden eggs of 2011 are not being laid by Lady Gaga, and they're not topping or even circumnavigating the download charts. As this ludicrously catchy split single shows, the pop gems of our time are being written firmly in the bosom of the underground.
Dalston's A.Human kick things off with the most addictive and carefree tune this side of Mystery Jet's excellent line of singles last year: 'Take Me Home' could almost be 'Flash A Hungry Smile' rewritten by Soft Cell and sung by David Byrne. Dipping into melancholy for three seconds, the song clutches victory from the jaws of introspection with its simple, and simply great chorus: "Take me home! Take me home! Take me home!" It's without a doubt the most addictive and upbeat indie-pop number of the year so far.
Things get weirder on side B as La Shark offer up 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (here's a clue: "You took another guy for a lover"). The song exists in a luminous, LSD-distorted disco full of Laughing Gnome-era Bowie vocal snippets and - again - a slam dunk chorus.
These two groups are hitting the road together at the moment, and on this evidence it's going to be a cross between a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and indie-pop heaven. This split single really is a rare and joyous treat - put this magazine down and get downloading!
Cindy Suzuki

Interpol
Lights
(Soft Limit/Co Op)
* * *

'Lights' has one idea, but it's a pretty good one: a dark, three note riff gets played with increasing levels of intensity as Paul Banks explains; "You will always obey / that's why I hold you!" My girlfriend would smash my balls with a mallet if I dared utter those words to her, but in this context it sort of works: romantic gloom is achieved, Interpol live to be grumpy another day.
Ric Rawlins

The Phantom Band
Everybody Knows It's true
(Chemikal Underground)
* * *

Taking a leaf out of Wild Beasts' philosophy, The Phantom Band know that pop music is there to be deconstructed. The question is, what formation are you left with once the cards fall? This single from their album 'The Wants' is based around a hypnotic xylophone tinkle, with ghostly wailing, oceanic synths and... well, all sorts of weirdness cruising in and out. It's not exactly catchy or emotive, but it's certainly an interesting Frankensingle.
Ric Rawlins

Retro/Grade
Reset
(Deconstruction Records)
* * * *

Retro/Grade have appeared out of nowhere to become a top tip for 2011 complete with Radio One coverage. It's easy to see why: their brand of disco, which is remarkably full-on and in-your-face, is easy to get hooked on if 'Reset' is anything to go by.
You could argue that it's all rather familiar (Simian Mobile Disco offer a similar line in club bangers), but does it really matter? Not when synths are bubbling against a magnificent hypnotic beat and the vocals, provided by Sakura, feel accessible but uncompromised. It's a tune that both indie hipsters and chart-loving folk can enjoy. That's a good thing, right?
Max Raymond

Sisterland
Tomorrow/Bearing Gifts
(Too Pure Singles Club)
* * *

Swamping your sound in reverb and shoegaze isn't perhaps the best strategy for standing out from the crowd at the moment, but Leicester trio Sisterland are at least in possession of some tasty melodies, not to mention Big Bastard Bass Riffs. This double A-side demonstrates their strategy nicely: find a catchy vocal motif, repeat said motif amongst an alien landscape of weirdo-pop. And we'll be damned if it don't work too!
Ric Rawlins

Anna Calvi
Blackout
(Domino)
* * * *

There's something of Roy Orbison's 'I Drove All Night' to this song, perhaps in its sense of a race against time to save romance from the jaws of doom. That said, Calvi also echoes Chrissie Hynde in her captivating vocal performance, balancing strength and vulnerability while the storm blows around her. Dramatic pop at its best.
Cindy Suzuki