If you’re mood seems affected by all the dark, glitchy, post-dubstep artists, or those numerous burnt out, fuzzed, atmospheric, post-chillwave, guitar bands that are ten a penny at the moment, then you might find Grouplove the perfect antidote.
During economic times like these, with all the job losses and cutbacks, alongside all the natural disasters and politically-charged rioting around the world, you would imagine the perfect backdrop would be the minimalism of James Blake, or the immersed saturation of Echo Lake. However, the last thing you need when your feeling at a low is your closest friends putting their arms around you and wallowing in your misery. What you actually need is re-energising.
That’s where this wonderful five piece from Los Angeles come in. That’s not to say they are infused with a tacky Californian, sunny disposition, as this isn’t some inappropriate Mamas & Papas re-visit. What they’re infused with and what really makes you feel good is their abundant enthusiasm. Like Arcade Fire they are both anthemic and uplifting, properly jamming and not caring if they hit a bum note – Singer, Christian Zuconni, is often heard trying so hard that his voice breaks, with the others broadly smiling as they whack their instruments behind him.
They’re currently on tour in the UK and Europe in support of their self-titled, five track EP which has been re-released in the UK today. You can expect the kind of organic indie pop that grows and builds to big, infectious, shouting climaxes. It’s these vocal endings that strike your fun buttons, with lyrics about “living out your dreams” and “sucking on that weed” that soundtrack your escape to the beach. There’s elements of the kind of busking indie that we used to get from Freelance Whales, or the energy of The Pixies at their most carefree.
They continue to receive helpful mentions on many blogs, including Neon Gold and the NME had the below video as an exclusive towards the end of last year, having called them one of the best new bands to appear in 2010. They’re putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length, which they’re hoping to have out in May via Canvasback/Atlantic (US). With all this wonderful positivity we think it’s about time we took our heads out of the oven and removed those pipes from the exhaust, as we finally find the first injection of energy that’s going to revitalise our 2011. (MB)
GROUPLOVE – COLOURS
GROUPLOVE – NAKED KIDS
