Wild Beasts - "Wanderlust"

Operatic indie rockers Wild Beasts have returned with their new single, "Wanderlust", from Present Tense, the follow-up to their incredible and sexy 2011 LP, Smother. With a relentless, driving drum beat, the song sees the group moving farther from their dramatic beginnings, favoring something a bit more streamlined. Singer Hayden Thorpe still shows off his divisive, emotive, warbling voice, and the song ends in a repetitive, beautiful bridge. The video that accompanies a cast of disparate characters running and walking, growing more hysteric throughout, as they each mouth Thorpe's declaration of "Don't confuse me with someone who gives a fuck." It's odd, but also oddly moving.

Watch the video above, and look out for Present Tense on February 24, via Domino.

Daughter- "Smother"

Hailing from London, Elena Tonra makes music as a part of a project that goes by the name of Daughter. "Smother" is their new 7" single, and along with B-side "Run," it was released digitally on September 3 and physically on October 1 via 4AD and Glassnote. Aside from this single, the group only has two EPs to their name, but is presently at work on their full-length debut. In the mean time, stream the A-side above courtesy of the band's YouTube channel.

"Smother" opens with a set of evocative, delicately strummed guitar chords that wouldn't sound out of place in a modern post-rock song. When Tonra's passionate vocals enter shortly after, however, the driving force of the song becomes clear. Backed by swelling instrumentation and angelic vocal harmonies, Tonra's vocal delivery achieves a simultaneously haunting and heartbreaking effect, rounding out what is ultimately an emotionally potent piece of music.

Wild Beasts- "Bed of Nails"

A new video from Wild Beasts for the track "Bed of Nails." It comes from the band's new LP, Smother, which I reviewed earlier this year. Check the review here.

Look for Smother now on Domino Recs.

Wild Beasts- Smother

Wild Beast's Smother shows the band toning things down, and making a sound that comes off eerier than the material on their previous two albums. Though this LP still holds some of the grooves their last albums did, the songs here carry a much more serious tone--maybe too serious? There are some great tunes and passionate vocals here, but a good chunk of these tracks come off as being merely agreeable--you know, not offending or enthralling.

I'll be listening for this band's next release, because I am intrigued by what their next move will be, but I'm still stopping just short of loving this LP.

WATCH THE REVIEW