THE 1975 have served up a ridiculously catchy track called The Sound. An 80s-style pop romp that wears a big smile on its face and seems to be a three-and-a-half-minute chorus, The Sound is taken from the band's peculiarly titled new album I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It.
Some songs have an almost scientific design that simply ensures that they enter your head at the first encounter and take up residence for weeks – even if you don't actually enjoy them. The Sound is absolutely one of the songs.
After hearing it once I found myself humming the chorus for the rest of the day. No matter how hard I tried to banish it from my consciousness by playing everything from Metallica's Enter Sandman to The Weeknd's Can't Feel My Face, the song would not budge. I'm thinking of writing the band a complaint letter.
Like it or not, The Sound will soundtrack your weeks ahead. Resistance is futile.
BOYS KEEP SWINGING
PET Shop Boys have come up with a banging EDM track to herald their return. Inner Sanctum is its very grand name and it twists and turns with immense style from start to finish.
Neil and Chris have been working with producer Stuart Price again and that ongoing relationship seems to be an extremely fruitful one. This is PSB at their electronic best – echoes of In The Night, Paninaro and I'm With Stupid spring to mind.
The new album, entitled Super, will be released in April.
PERFECT POP
BEST news of the week is that the great Iggy Pop has completed his new album and the even better news is that Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age was the producer entrusted with turning Iggy's thoughts and expressions into a rock solid record.
Judging by the songs I've heard, the partnership is heaven sent, with both Pop's and Homme's musical idiosyncrasies and hallmarks highly evident and gelling together to make a brand new beautiful noise.
This splicing of musical genes has resulted in an exciting new species called Post Pop Depression that will be released from its cage on March 18.
CHASING CARS
WALKING On Cars' debut album, Everything This Way, is released today and is well worth checking out.
The band from Dingle boast a collection of seriously good tracks such as Always Be With You, Two Stones and Tick Tock and are definitely a band to watch for 2016.
You can see and hear these songs unfold for yourself at Belfast's Limelight on February 8.
