MFM Playlist (15th November)

In the last week we finally put our thoughts together and decided on the artists we deemed to have it in them to define the next ten years. Whilst many other publications were still going nuts over the last ten years, this lot made us look forward to the future. Album-wise, Biffy Clyro got a rousing reception and The Antlers finally got their worthy praise from our writers. That and we featured tracks from Hot Chip, Frightened Rabbit and Penguin Prison. Quiet week this was not. So let’s start another busy one with our finest MFM Playlist yet. A couple of the artists below have been featured in our debut playlist a couple of weeks back, just so you know they really mean business.
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Beach Fossils – Vacation

This commences like any other deep South guitar swooner, crossing angular guitar rhythms with casual drum patterns. But it’s Beach Fossils’ vocals that surprise you – trembling with effect, warning that “I might not come back home…” Did I mention these guys were from Brooklyn? The safest bet possible if you’re into Real Estate and the like… (mp3)

7.0

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Cold War Kids – Audience Of One

Out with the underwhelming, in with the new. Taken off a criticism-defying ‘Behave Yourself’ EP, ‘Audience of One’ proves that Cold War Kids are still in the game with a more soulful take on their chiming minimalism, handclaps and everything. It’s no ‘Hang Me Out To Dry’ though, and you are left wondering just when Cold War Kids will re-deploy that winning formula.

6.2

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His Clancyness – Misinterpret My Words

Delicately structured, smoothly operated, the latest wonderful product from His Clancyness might just be our favourite yet. The chorus, in particular, comes in at the perfect time, just as you become hypnotised by the hushing tones of the opening minute. In fact, he hasn’t written a bad chorus yet as far as we can tell. (mp3)

8.2

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Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars

It’s all in the first five seconds. Eight strums of an electric guitar, one whisper of vocals and then the beat, the beat that truly defines what Sleigh Bells are all about – creating quintessential catchy pop songs with an inventive, obnoxious edge. Alexis Krauss is emerging as a Karen O-like figure with her commanding dominance on every bit of majestic simplicity that Poison the Well’s Derek Miller conjures up. (mp3)

9.0

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Viernes – Sinister Love

Commencing with shy harmonics and a tap-tap beat, at not one point do you expect ‘Sinister Love’ to suddenly morph into a beautiful layered display of post-rock like it does. Only it’s more beautiful that post-rock and maybe that’s because of the piano patterns but overall this is more fitted together and less carried away than the norm. Viernes have given us a mighty good first impression of a band more than capable of producing more to this standard. (mp3)