Following our news post last week, informing you that Everything Everything were streaming their new album Man Alive (Geffen 2010) on Myspace, I requested that it make an appearance on Spotify soon. Seems like they were listening to me, because I’m pleased to inform you all that it is now on Spotify too!
Everything Everything don’t need me to wax lyrical for them. In December last year, they were shortlisted for the BBC’s Sound of 2010. MY KZ, UR BF was featured on Zane Lowe’s Hottest Records blog, and they can count Take That amongst their biggest fans. In other words, they’ve got previous.
Its reach is understandable. From the synth stabs of the Lowe-endorsed MY KZ, UR BF, you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to 1986’s Please. The falsetto melodies could be from the Beegees (though there’s a distinctly Futureheads vibe about Jonathan Higgs’ vocal when he’s not grabbing his balls). The rhythm section bounces along like something straight out of disco-era funk. It’s distinctly accessible. And yet, not… The chops are severe, the amalgamation of styles so abruptly put together – they want you to dance, but they don’t want you to draw breath. Everything Everything are an enigma.
MY KZ, UR BF sets the tone, drawing you in on those aforementioned synth lines, a ridiculously catchy melody and instantly danceable grooves. It’s done with an infectious playfulness that makes the dizzying groove-shifts and textural suffocation accessible, approachable. Through the previously released Schoolin’ and the popular Suffragette Suffragette these ideas continue to blend, and you start to get a handle on what Everything Everything are about.
But around every corner of recognition you may stumble past, Everything Everything aren’t afraid to throw in new ideas that may seem startling at first, but work their way into the fabric of what they’re doing thanks to an effortless talent just to make all these textures work. There are times where you’re not sure.. is this working? The jovial harpsichord line that permeates most of Two For Nero sounds dubious at first, but as more layers are added, culminating in an incredible multi-part vocal line over an almost trip-hop backing, you’re eventually left thinking, no, no that was amazing after all.
You’ll never enjoy being challenged by music as much as this, yet you’ll still come out humming tunes after one listen. It’s got Everything x2. (Boom)
9/10
