Recently I was lucky enough to gain work experience as an intern at 6music over the extended Uni Christmas holidays. Contrary to what you’d think it wasn’t all about making cups of tea and coffee either, granted I did excel at this. I got to spend most of my time working on the Tom Robinson’s Introducing Show and as a result feel more clued up on new music than ever. One of the main jobs was sifting through the recommendations we got sent, which contained an unusually high amount of North-East contributions. Amongst them were Newcastle’s very own Polarsets, which, after maybe 10 seconds of listening, I put through and with Tom’s seal of approval made it into the show last week.

Now, safely back in the North-East, NSR have been sent their new E.P, available for free at polarsets.bandcamp.com, 3 tracks which cement the band as one of the strongest in the region. ‘Just Don’t Open Your Eyes Yet’ and ‘Then a Girl Falls In Your Arms’ are strong, hook laden tracks you’d expect to hear on any daytime radio show, the latter as catchy a pop song I’ve heard all year.

Obvious similarities can be drawn between the band and fellow Tyne natives Little Comets, jangly guitar riffs, frantic drumming and high pitched vocals; complete with golden vocal harmonies is the closest thing the North-East has to a ‘sound’. Parallels can also been drawn to The Wombats, Go Faster and Hot Club De Paris, all with the ability to write a track to chant along to that isn’t necessarily seen as ‘Lad-Rock’. However, the fundamental connection these bands share, above all else, is that they sound like their enjoying themselves.

They’re apparently pioneering a genre they call ‘Deep Disco’, a sound which conjures up images of the Bee Gees and Kool and the Gang being banished to the sewers. But on this evidence, this is indie-pop at its catchiest. The E.P has a genuine sense of exuberance, optimism and energy hugely lacking from a host of ‘ones to watch’ acts and promises much for future releases. They’re playing a host of dates around the North-East, well worth investigating.

Christian.

Polarsets Myspace

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Delorean are a lovely 4 piece originally from the Basque Country currently making their music in Barcelona, their move no doubt influenced by the late 80s exploits of Gary Lineker and Mark Hughes! 4 chaps with exciting nombres that us En-Ger-Land inhabitants could only dream of, their new E.P 'Ayrton Senna' (this band are full of car references) is a beautiful record fitting for this time of year. Ekhi, Guillermos, Igor and Unai have created an E.P that is equally danceable as it is relaxing, both fitting as a bar's background music and as a disco floorfiller. The E.P opener 'Deli' is complete with atmospheric minamalistic guitars, hiprolling baselines, piano-house keyboards and delicate, breathy female vocal samples. Drawing more than a passing comparison to the synthpop of equally exotic St Albans' trio Friendly Fires.

The song that's gaining the most hype however is 'Seasun' a track which pretty much tries to encapsulate both these features, like a day out at Weston Super Mare in music form. It builds slowly to a perfect dreamy hook, a track which indicates the band arent afraid to limit the vocal influence in their songs. The guitars seem to fit in with the Passion Pit, Temper Trap sound which currently is more popular than a comparethemarket advertising campaign, 'glo-fi' or whatever it's been christened this week.

The E.P is available on everyone's favourite, Spotify. Which I've noticed, has started playing 2 ad's in a row. I mean, I can forgive being reminded that Fosters are trying to appeal to those of us who are a quarter Australian, but this followed by an ad where an actor poses as a friend wanting to explain 'acceptable drinking' is far from acceptable, and is threatening to ruin any listening experience!

Oh ok then, here's Deli for you.

Delorean Official Myspace

Christian

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