Single Review: Fall Back - Factory Floor

Factory Floor are a London-based three-piece who I've previously highlighted as one of the most exciting acts on DFA at the moment and 'Fall Back' is the first single lifted from their album, due in March this year.

This new track picks up where 'Two Different Ways' left off, continuing their playfully energetic take on the Industrial sounds of the past. Starting with rapidly pulsating electronic bass the record builds towards an increasingly acute degree of cacophony. "Did you feel like you were... Going to... Fall... On the ground?" warped vocals enquire obliquely.

The scatter-gun percussion - full of rapid hi-hats and muted drum rolls - give 'Fall Back' its real swagger, offsetting the harsh synths with a little humanity. There's a hint of Krautrock running through the track's veins but ultimately it's what Industrial should be, mechanical and unforgiving, and the Krautrock influence only adds to that. 

Over the eight-and-a-half-minute duration of the track Factory Floor unleash the kind of funkadelic-acid-drenched-mosh-pit that DFA have always done so well. How the band's experimental sound survives the transition to long-play format is a mystery still to be resolve, but right now let's just relish in it.

Fall Back is out now through DFA. Order on 12" or digital release directly from DFA. Listen via Spotify below:

Stream / Download: The Vigil EP - Paris XY

Paris XY are vocalist Alice Smith and musician James Orvis and their music comes across a little like Trentemøller meets Chromatics. That's perhaps unsurprising as James lists his influences as including a number of live electronic acts, of which Trentemøller is one, alongside The Knife and Simian Mobile Disco.

The combination of electronic atmospherics together with live instruments lend their début EP, entitled The Vigil, a chilling sound. There's a darkness running through that feels like diving into warm black water at midnight. They also include a cover version of Little Dragon's 'Twice', which really rides a deep, moody bass line to create something sinister yet sensual. It says a lot that the two other track on the EP hold their weight against it.

The Vigil EP is out now via Bandcamp alongside more traditional channels - you can download it for free or pay what you think it is worth.

Download: Strange Beast - Lower Plenty

This track from Melbourne four-piece Lower Plenty is pretty special. A dark, bluesy and claustrophobic tale of loneliness, this feels like a strangely urban take on country music and I love it.

Though the members have worked on other projects in the past, last year saw the release of Lower Plenty's debut album Hard Rubbish in Australia, and it's set for release globally in April through Fire records.

Single Review: The PL - Typesun

This new single from Bristol's Typesun is a bit of a mystery. The vocals are puzzling and the vocalist himself has even chosen to remain anonymous, suggesting this one cuts close to the bone.

It's certainly an emotionally charged tale of trying to avoid feelings for someone - the trepidation that comes when you are falling a little faster than intended. The vocals are smooth and soulful in their delivery but, much like the track itself, understated.

The music is tense, reflecting the song's emotional state, at fracture not quite at that point when it explodes. The live drums and bass that subtly builds throughout that track perfectly match the lyrics, even building to a crescendo halfway through, but the singer just about reigns it in:  "Keep it on the DL, I think I'm feeling PL: player's love crept up on me". We're left in the half anxious, half dreamy and spell-bound musical backing, the vocals seemingly silenced by their creator whilst the feelings remain.

On the flip is a remix from Behling & Simpson, who give it a deep, hard garage makeover. Tough looping beats and a lo fi bass line give this a really old school sound that opens up to a love-struck sounding second half. A nice, fresh sounding take but it lacks the innovation and feeling of the original.

With an album due to follow, The PL marks an exciting start to 2013. This recalls both the late-90s nu soul movement and some of Britain's best mid-nineties soul-dance cross-over artists such as Soul II Soul. I can't wait to hear more.

The PL is out today on Root Elevation, available for purchase digitally from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate link]. Hear Gilles Peterson play the track on his radio show:

Stream: After You - Pulp

This new track from Pulp is genius. It's great to hear something new from the band even if it does surface as a fair well at the end of their extended reunion tour.

The track was originally a demo back in 2000 but was recently re-recorded with James Murphy on production duties and the collaboration works fantastically. Their is a stripped-back minimalism to Murphy's style that gives Pulp a suitable tautness, whilst also calling to mind a few of Murphy's earlier productions. The call-outs to Hackney and supermarkets are also pure Pulp, and I miss them.

Check it out on Soundcloud below: