After a brief snooze, we're back (if anyone asks, we were Chasing the Saturdays). Here's what we've been spinning at PressPLAY HQ this week, now that we've returned to business as usual.
Petula Clark - Cut Copy Me
"Forget the others from my past", opines Petula Clark on Cut Copy Me. At 80 years old, there's a lot of her past to forget, but we'd quite happily do so if meant hearing more of this Saint Etienne-tinged marvel (and we're happy to change incontinence pants should the need arise). Stupendous all round.
MS MR - Fantasy
House favourites MS MR show no sign of slowing down. Fantasy, the first cut from their upcoming album, ticks all the right darkwave boxes we've come to expect from the duo. Hell, they've even cheered up a little this time. Good for them.
Amor de Dias - The House at Sea
The Clientele's Alisdair Maclean's London-based side project Amor de Dias ('love of days' in Spanish, apparently) returns with a fertile pastoral sound, most evident in the title track for the new album, The House at Sea. There's a faint hint of Jose Gonzalez by way of Neal Casal, but with a most definite Clientele stamp. Dreamy.
Oliver - Mechanical
Nope, not the annoying Dickensian kid taken in by a bearded paedophile. Instead Oliver are an electronica duo that wouldn't have sounded out of place on the Drive soundtrack. Mechanical is absolutely spot-on in terms of synth sugar so we say, Oliver: consider yourself... approved.
Ruby Suns - Kingfisher Call Me
More joyous indietronica (forgive us) in the form of Kiwi band, the Ruby Suns. Lead singer Ryan McPhun - hereby known as Ryan McPhun-house - carries Kingfisher Call Me with his dreamy vocals. It's slightly unconventional and throws a wobbly at the end, but it's all the more endearing for it.
Wildcat! Wildcat! - Please and Thank You
With a crazy name like that, you half expect this band to be a thesis into the inner workings of Karen O. Although they could never match up to something like that, this lo-fi band err on the right side of twee for a twinkly little ditty to while away a sunset.
Tegan and Sara - Closer
Oh we love it when an unremarkable band starts getting 'good'. Tegan and Sara's new album is a whiff of refreshment, the sort of wonderful you might see if they simultaneously came off the blob. Closer is toe-tapping, crowd-pleasing pop for sure (with not a Tampax in sight).
We also recommend La Femme by Indians and Blue Hawaii - The Other Day but those smart cookies/annoying farts have no listenable links online. But rest assured you'll thank us for the blind purchase.