Ivy Lab – ‘Missing Persons’ (EP)

Opening with the title track featuring a guest appearance from Frank Carter III (he’s on it so little I hope they didn’t pay him much) the EP gets off to a soulful start before someone sets the drum machine going and ruins it, with the fast-paced drum and bass riff being entirely different to the slow, sensual nature of the rest of the record. ‘Missing Persons’ is fine at the times when the drum machine is given time to rest but even without that it does sound like an off-the-shelf relaxation CD has been put on. It’s hardly dolphin sound but it’s hardly engaging music either. {rating}

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Darius – ‘Romance’ (EP)

Sadly not Darius of Pop Idol fame, this is a different, more French, Darius out with his EP of smooth electronic laid back numbers. Lead single ‘Espoir’ is samey, repetitive and lacking the oomph needed to really lend appeal to a minimalistic synthy composition, though it does echo the calmer more subdued numbers from fellow countrymen Daft Punk’s earlier catalogue. ‘Espoir’ doesn’t do enough to really grab me though its atmosphere and smoothness are definite positives. {rating}

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Hannah Peel – ‘Fabricstate’ (EP)

Track number one on her EP, ‘Silk Road’, is as silky as the title, a slow, meandering number but one that pulls you in with its simple, evocative nature boosted by a mesmerising harp sound. It’s difficult to put my finger on what makes the track but the gentle well-constructed production is definitely one of them. {rating}

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Little Comets – ‘The Gentle’ (EP)

Opener ‘Little Italy’ is a pointed, indie number led by the distinct vocals of the lead singer and it bounces along for a very quick three minutes but doesn’t leave a massive mark on you as it lacks the killer hook of an indie classic, and the converging elements at the two minute mark don’t quite gel. The synthy bits are quite fun though. {rating}

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CLAIRE – Games (EP)

I remember when I first started learning the keyboard I could have done a piano riff like this, someone stabbing at five notes on the keyboard over and over again. Here on ‘Games’, joined by three remixes on the extended-play, CLAIRE is more listenable than the irritating, repetitive off-the-shelf backing; her voice is a pleasure to listen to. {rating}

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Boyz Club – ‘Whatchu Do’

“Welcome to the Boyz Club, please pick up your membership card. As part of this club we’ll style you, write a song for you and provide you with our latest Autotune machine, but I must warn you that it’s seen better days. We also have an RnB producer who has hit hard times who’ll come on board and make the record.” I believe that’s the introduction these four lads will have got. It’s as you’d expect from a One Direction / *NSync / The Wanted clone coming across as Justin Bieber and his three cloned brothers.

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Avicii – ‘Addicted To You’ (David Guetta Remix)

The fourth single from Avicii’s debut album is possibly the most different so far due to the fact it lands on the digital shelves in the form of a David Guetta remix, and it’s a remix that whips out all the clichéd hallmarks of a Guetta production whilst Avicii lifts the sound of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Shot Me Down’, though it’s frankly better than the hash-up David Guetta recently did of the actual record. {rating}

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