As published in NME 27.01.10

Dirty Projectors – Ascending Melody

Much like a synchronised swimming display from a tangle of octopuses in a pool of pimp juice, there’s no way this should work – it’s got way too many tentacles flailing at a hundred different speeds. The DP ladies’ vocals are even more extra-terrestrial than when we last heard them on the ‘Temecula Sunrise’ EP, spraying fountains of nonsensical joy about Dave Longstreth’s bungeeing warble. Deliciously obnoxious, particularly during the indulgent Brooklynite tribal meditation halfway through.

Retribution Gospel Choir – Hide It Away

Fronted by Alan Sparhawk (he of Low fame), Retribution Gospel Choir enlisted the production skills of Matt Beckley, best known for his work with Paris Hilton, post-breakdown Britney and Avril Lavigne for their second record. Luckily though, they’ve clung tight to their powerful riffs and Sparhawk’s bleak condemnations, with a helping of stadium grandiosity for good measure.

Joanna Newsom – Easy

Since ‘Ys’ came along and rewrote everything we thought we knew about music, the hunt for clues about its follow-up has been a holy grail of speculation, until a quirky little doodle entitled ‘Have One On Me’ popped up online depicting Joanna revealing a small boy from beneath her skirts. It’s since transpired that the phrase is the title of A TRIPLE ALBUM out at the end of February, and ‘Easy’ (filmed here at a recent gig in Sydney) is one of the first sneak peeks from it. You can thank us later.

of Montreal – Energy Gene

We’re thoroughly stoked about of Montreal’s newie (tentatively titled ‘False Priest’), apparently featuring the two doyennes of future R&B, Janelle Monáe and Solange, and a song with the hook, “your pussy is a star”. This new clip is a far less bombastic affair than all that – a very hirsute Barnes alone with a piano, ruminating on romantic genetic defects – though by the time the album rolls around, don’t be surprised if it’s jazzed up to the nines with unicorns and prog-tinged jams.

Active Child – Voice Of An Old Friend (Summer Camp Bedford Falls Remix)

Not one, but two of our biggest new crushes have teamed up for this incredible reworking of former Radar love Active Child’s divine new single, making us feel more spoilt than a bratty oik on Christmas morn. Summer Camp blow away AC’s efflorescent harp explosions and use their sweet siren call to drag the original’s languid OMD stylings to the bottom of a lake, adding cute samples and amping up the ’80s kick while they’re down there. More please!

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Tags: Active Child, Alan Sparhawk, Ascending Melody, Dirty Projectors, Easy, Energy Gene, Have One On Me, Hide It Away, Janelle Monae, Joanna Newsom, Kevin Barnes, Low, Music, NME, of Montreal, Retribution Gospel Choir, Review, Solange, Summer Camp, Temecula Sunrise, triple album, Voice Of An Old Friend