It’s all very bright and brisk on the singles front this week. Ladyhawke may be the shiniest pop strumpet since, well, last week, and Paolo Nutini is back simple singing about a sugar-based snack of the human variety. Daniel Merriweather has a Beatles son in tow to play a typically breezy ballad, while fellow Australians Howling Bells have embraced the way of the summer. There is also a Marilyn Manson track out this week, but let’s not worry about that.
Ladyhawke – Back of the Van
Ladyhawke is doing the pop disco thing as adeptly and as harmlessly as anyone. Back of the Van tries to “absorb the obvious pop clichés but somehow manage to transcend them all the same” Digital Spy notes, giving 8/10. This Is Fake DIY thinks it is “a nice, laid-back piece of synth-pop cheese” and offers 5/10. Promo News despairs that “it’s come to this – ironic Eighties-style soft rock,” but still thinks it’s brilliant. Digital Spy nails the comparisons – it is massively Cyndi Lauper-lauding, while Madonna and Fleetwood Mac also spring to mind. 6/10.
Daniel Merriweather – Red
Breaking free from the shackles of countless cameos, Daniel Merriweather is out on his own. “If anyone can point out how this is substantially different from the last power ballad released by Robbie Williams, let me know,” complains Monkey Boxing. The Beat Review deems it 8/10 fare, praising “Daniel’s soulful, raspy vocals”. Glasswerk National spots the “metaphor for looming political change and imploding capitalism” in the song. That’s stretching it. Even with Sean Lennon on guitar, it gets 4/10.
Paolo Nutini – Candy
Paolo Nutini sung with Usain Bolt last year - this is worth a few marks alone. Die Shellsuit, Die! calls for him to be more Van Morrison than James Morrison” and describes Candy as 4/10 “beige nonsense”. Still, the BBC is “mesmerised” by his musical growth and claims the “song cut through like vinegar in a trifle” in a 10/10 write up. Differing again, True To Sound explains that this song “follows on where the last album left off” and is “just in time for summer”. Unlike Bolt, it’s of pedestrian pace and very fortgettable. 5/10.
Howling Bells – Digital Hearts
Continuing the sunshine theme, “you can tell that summer is on its way as this tune undulates with sing-along sunshine filled peaks” indicates 4/10-marking Daily Music Guide. Female First votes 6/10, describing Digital Hearts as “a brilliant, uncomplicated, up-tempo song”. Drowned In Sound observes that it “could be The Duke Spirit…having undergone an Antipodean makeover”. Singer Juanita Stein is typically sultry and it is their best release for a while, but just lacks the dark brilliance of older material. Still worth 7/10 though.
