Singles for the week starting 4 July!

Dutch Uncles
X-O
(Memphis Industries)
* * * * * *

Recalling The Laurel Collective for tropical and funky math-pop, Dutch Uncles' new single is as fine as a very fine wine. Vocalist Duncan Wallis sounds a bit like King Creosote (no bad thing), the guitars sound like they're swimming in a pool of liquid acid (no bad thing either), and as for the smart arse time signatures…? Well, usually I can take or leave the things, but the grooviness inherent on 'X-O' is pretty reliant on them, so again thumbs up. And thus the Lord did approveth of Dutch Uncles.
Ric Rawlins

Letters
Flash! Lights
(Tape)
* * * *

Scotland really know how to feed us passionate and elegantly warming rock. Taking the booming yet emotional presence of Frightened Rabbit, Letters new single manages to incorporate a throbbingly haunting cello arrangement into soaring guitars that reach Biffy levels of power. That said, at its more subtle moments the bass, drums and cello give the song a real heartbeat. A lament for a past life, this is a gloriously euphoric single that makes me want to hear so much more by them. Investigate.
Lee Puddefoot

Jenners Field
Drunk Drive
(Self Release)
* * * *

Propulsive indie-rock introductions here from a band all of whom are still under 21 - the swines! 'Drunk Drive' kicks off with a riff that echoes a sort of B-movie horror soundtrack, before singer Laurie starts yapping away over a top speed indie-disco beat. I'm not sure if there's a chorus or not - it all whizzes past quite hedonistically - but the energy and togetherness of the band is enough to seize the day.
Cindy Suzuki

Joel Sarakula
Bohemian
(Art Parade Records)
* * *

Kooky acoustic pop transforms before your very eyes into an enjoyably singalong glam rock chant on the debut single from Ozzie singer-songwriter Joel Sarakula.
The melody is so simple as to be almost unrealised, but this is a breezy enough tune, while B-side 'Present Tense' goes for a magical mystery Beatles vibe. All in all, passable.
T Bone Jones

Mount Kimble
Carbonated
(Hot Flush)
* *

Featuring electro so minimalist it uses a lonesome tap dripping as percussion, the early signs from Mount Kimble is that the swines hardly even exist: this mini EP is all about the quiet moments.
Thing is, the percussion noises on 'Flux' sound like knee caps being cricked out of place, or someone dislocating their jaw - while the peripheral music is just a bit mental asylum. Fair doos if some people think this is revolutionary brilliance - but it fails to inspire any emotion one way or the other in me.
Danny Canning