single reviews from dance to the radio

iliketrains - Before the Curtains Close (DTTR005)
(Released 4th July 2005)

Napleon IIIrd - 7EP (DTTR004)
(Released 27th June 2005)

I love both of these new releases, both from the excellent based Leeds (UK) based record label, Dance to the Radio for completely different reasons.

I love iliketrain's for it's epic almost Godspeed You Black Emperor's blast, where the instruments cascade and explode sometimes on the tracks with a powerful post rock ism while confinded with a dark vocalist not seen certainly since very early Nick Cave / Tindersticks.

This is in contrast to Napeleon III'rd's equally condinding single which has been described as a one man string band or he 'sounds like he's stumbled into the gospel choir peak of a Spiritualized gig, playing a stylophone'

Both singles work and sent shivers down my back for a completely different reason.

The ilovetrains single is that sort of single that frequently threatens to explode literally any moment and clearly gives hint of a band that was caught live in the studio and that would probably completely blow your mind if ever seen live.

Napeleon's IIIrd's single in contrast a few more listens to grow on me, but that is just as a good thing as being hooked by a band immediately. On first listen I gave it, it reminded me of cult Manchester act from the 90's - The New Fast Automatic Daffdials with a almost Spiritualized backing rather The Beach Boys meet The Aphex Twin comparison I had read elsewhere.

Both however are excellent singles like I said at the beginning and are well worth checking out..