Now Playing: Twin Shadow – ‘Five Seconds’
Twin Shadow - Confess
Now Playing – twice every week, a roundtable of our writers will give their views on some of the recently-released new tracks. It’s as simple as that! If you want to tell us what you think of the song, feel free to leave a comment below.
Track: ‘Five Seconds’ by Twin Shadow
Average grade: 4.8
Anna: Whilst this is a. really ’80s b. generic in terms of new wave and c. repetitive lyrics wise, I enjoyed it. I feel dirty for having done so and for admitting it, but there you go. 7/10
Craig: Yes, this is very ’80s. Now that the elephant in the room has been addressed, this is a pretty cool song in its own context. Though the tone is gloomy, the beat doesn’t drone and make everything just a total bummer. Plus, the singer’s voice is unique in that he wavers in and out of tune artfully which prevents him from sounding like a robot, or Interpol. 6/10
James: I’m pretty indifferent about this one, nothing really stands out. It’s just quite predictable and the chorus doesn’t really go anywhere. There’s some nice layering going on but I could easily live without it. 3/10
Harry: ‘Five Seconds’ isn’t really anything interesting at all. It’s not especially exciting, inspiring, evocative or ground-breaking, and it certainly isn’t memorable. It is cheesy and it is unimaginative – Another track with an obvious ’80s drum beat and a vaguely catchy melody. To be perfectly honest, I had to double check that this wasn’t a previous X Factor contestant attempting to reinvent their dwindling career by going a bit “disco”. 2/10
Stuart: Okay, now I might well be one of Musos Guide’s elder statesmen (or knackered and decrepit hacks, you decide) but I really can’t see whom this track is aimed at. The synth riff sounds as if it was nicked off an early demo for Berlin’s ‘Take My Breath Away’ and the guitar licks sound like Per Gessle covering ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’ by Yes. The lyrics (and believe me even labelling them as such is a terrific stretch) are a repetitive insipid puzzle and about as entertaining as listening to an entire t.A.T.u. album whilst being molested by Dermot Murnaghan on crack.
I guess if you’re a big fan of Berlin – and a big fan of Roxette – and a big fan of Dermot Murnaghan – then ‘Five Seconds’ is the track for you. Personally, I can only wish it lasted only five seconds and Mr Shadow had stayed true to his name and never darkened my door with his horrible schtick. Oh, and he looks a bit like Craig David too – and that’s never a good thing. 2/10 (Yeah, and that’s because I quite like Roxette. ‘Look Sharp!’ is a belter of an album: put on ‘Sleeping Single’ rather than listening to this nonsense.)
Stef: I love this (I’m ignoring the beating the track gets above me). There’s something about that voice that really appeals to me, to me it is so full of emotion. Love how he goes from slightly bombastic to really understated, like the guitar and the layers, I think it is top notch stuff. Can’t wait for that album. 9/10
