Singles for the week starting 6th August!

Eugene McGuinness
Harlequinade
(Domino Recordings)
*****
The third taster for Eugene McGuinness' second album is one of those rare singles that you could only ever hear coming from one artist. Hard to believe McGuinness moonlights in Miles Kane's backing band. A long distance away from that mod-revival, Harlequinade is a big, bold pop song, dripping with ambition and with hints of Bowie's eclectic approach. If you've come across Eugene before the vocal is unmistakable. If you're new to him you'll struggle to find an accurate comparison. This mixes with the choppy guitars, brass and uplifting backing vocals for a very satisfying record.
Lee White


The History of Apple Pie
Do It Wrong
(Marshall Teller Records)
***
Do It Wrong has a major guitar riff. Sitting somewhere between Graham Coxon's simplicity and Sonic Youth's noise comes The History Of Apple Pie. Silly name, good single. Do It Wrong winks to Blur circa-Song 2 and the guitar solo even sounds a little Oasis. Trendy Britpop – who'd have known such a genre would ever exist!
Nicholas Burman


Foe
The Black Lodge
(Anorak)
****
The lyrics may be as dark as the eponymous lodge, but Foe’s newest single is delivered in a beguilingly chipper manner. One of the sunnier moments from debut Bad Dream Hotline, The Black Lodge sees Foe (aka Hannah Clarke) step away from the eerie vaudeville and into stone-cold pop territory.
Comparisons have been made between Foe and Marina and the Diamonds, in its large-scale delivery and pop sensibilities, ‘The Black Lodge’ does offer a glimpse into what prompted the likeness to be pointed out in the first place.
Dai Howells

Two Wounded Birds
To Be Young
(HOLIDAY FRIENDS RECORDING CO)
****
Despite the upbeat, Pixies-ish 'Here Comes Your Man' musical vibe going on here, Two Wounded Birds are not happy bunnies. “It's too easy, to be young, and hopeless”. On paper it's not the most revelatory lyrics ever written, but frontman Johnny Danger's strained vocal adds a sense of realism to the downbeat nature of the lyrics.
Nicholas Burman