Singles Night

Photo by Gregory Nolan

Welcome to the Singles Night, our new round-up of the singles that landed on the Stereokill desk recently. We’ve got three this time round, so let’s get right to it…

Kid Harpoon – “Stealing Cars” (Young Turks, 20th July)

It’s been a long time since we heard from Tom Hull, the Kent singer-songwriter better known as Kid Harpoon. His last release, The Second EP, hit the shelves in February 2008, its sparse acoustics and dark underbelly eliciting a highly positive response from critics and fans. New single “Stealing Cars” presents an new facet to Kid Harpoon’s sound: gone are the lo-fi acoustic guitars, replaced by richly-layered riffs pressed up against Hull’s raw vocals and eloquent, atmospheric songwriting. It’s a lighter sound than the First and Second EPs, admittedly, but an impressively refined new effort from one of Britain’s most promising new talents.

Our Arbitrary Numerical Verdict:
  

Loyal Trooper – “The Doctor” (self-released, 8th June)

This is the first time that North London singer-songwriter Andy Walker has shown up on our radar, and we like what we hear. “The Doctor” pulses slowly, steadily: Walker’s superbly melodic voice coupled with a rich bassline and a classical guitar line. It’s fantastically ethereal and beautifully penned. We tip Loyal Trooper to go a long way – keep an eye out for this one.

Our Arbitrary Numerical Verdict:
  

Knifeworld – “Pissed Up On Brake Fluid” (Believers Roast, 13th July)

You couldn’t ask for more impressive experimental music credentials than those of Knifeworld’s Kavus Torabi: a former member of The Monsoon Bassoon and guitarist for Guapo and Cardiacs. As if he wasn’t busy enough already, he has recently finished work on Knifeworld’s first album. Lead single “Pissed Up On Brake Fluid” starts out seeming almost too conventional for someone of Torabi’s background; it feels like straight-up guitar rock. That doesn’t last long though, as a wild riff and machine-gun vocal line turn it into a relentless art-rock rampage, moving at a hundred miles per hour but never losing its cool.

Our Arbitrary Numerical Verdict:
  

Articles our internet goblins think may interest you...

There Will Be Fireworks – "There Will Be Fireworks"