The Singles… Kirstie McCrum on Belleruche, Holy Ghost!, The Lines and THe Magic Numbers

Feeling like summer’s on its way out? Don’t despair yet, the radio’s keeping the dream alive for a month or so longer with lovelies like the new single from Belleruche. Clockwatching is a finger-picking slice of female-fronted tunesmithery from the Brighton three-piece. With a distinctly Roisin Murphy vocal, singer Kathrin DeBoer smooches her way through some delicious sophisti-pop. ‘I’m back in the backseat’, she smoulders, and a nation swoons. Overall lacking in genuine heft, Clockwatching is nevertheless a pleasant distraction from the turning of the leaves and as a forerunner to October’s album release 270 Stories, it’s a pretty promising one.

Cooler than cool is a dead concept, but there’s still an echelon of musicianship which towers above the rest. Such as a DJ duo from Brooklyn signed to DFA? Yes please! Holy Ghost! are a gift for the single reviewer, all hewn from cocky cool and swaggering entitlement. Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser of the now-defunct Automato create a world of retro-tinged dancefloor pleasers on the Static on the Wire EP. The title track maintains the rules of straightforward chord progressions and a funky instrumental break and the whole thing gives dance skills to all who hear it. Or so they like to believe.

Next up, a band who have taken dancing lessons from their dads. Originally released earlier this year, Hurts have such faith in their single Wonderful Life that they’ve gone for a spot of reincarnation. Like Tears For Fears for now, the Manchester two-piece are clear 1980s revivalists, which is fine, but it comes off a little Human League circa Only Human, namely, not at the height of their powers. Still the video’s good for some moody guys’n'gals shots, and lots of po-faced posing against overcast skies. It’s grim up North.

Lucky for them, South Londoners Flash Fiktion have spent a lot of time carving out their look, as well as their sound, which should please muso types. A crashing punch in the face of neo-pop-punkery, there’s a sniff of nosebleeding nights here. Vocalist Matt brings the taint of the Skins generation to Johnny Rotten’s stylings and the end effect is a very stylish, guitar driven romp through glam rock’s back garden, stepping on all the plants.

For an evergreen musical recipe of note, take a little Interpol and mix in some Arcade Fire, and you’re somewhere close to the strains of The Strange Death Of Liberal England‘s new track Rising Sea. A pompous raucous escapade with plenty of oomph and a raw intelligence, the Portsmouth five-piece are charismatic to a fault and entirely bats. A live band with a real sense of place and stage presence, there are bright things ahead for their gloomy progressive sounds. If that makes sense.

Wolverhampton wanderers The Lines may be ten years too late with their definite article-touting name, but they’re bang on schedule with their beefy Glorious Aftermath single. A guitar-led track packed with gusto, their instrumentalism brings to mind And So I Watch You From Afar, before a vocal uncannily reminiscent of A-Ha’s Morten Harket peals out of the speakers. ‘Caught in the crossfire, caught in the crossfire’, bellows singer Alex Ohms, and the soaring wonder of the Last Shadow Puppets is anew. Will soundtrack many Freshers’ Week nights out this year with its inclusive anthemic holler.

A song which may soundtrack many Freshers’ Week morning afters is Why Did You Call? Known for being both beardy and chunky, The Magic Numbers nonetheless captivated a nation with some tuneful meanderings a few years ago. So it’s only fitting that for Romeo and his hirsuite bandmates, the comeback single is a humalong favourite that your nan would like. A melancholic edge to a poppy fandango, there’s nothing new added to the Magic Numbers’ canon here, but if you like their brand, you’ll like this.

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