Well well…this is unexpected. Ms Scarlett Johansson has got together a band and made some music. Some really rather excellent music. Banish all thoughts of Hollywood having a shot at popage and delivering a catastrophic, though entertaining, car crash – hi, Keanu Reeves! – this is hyper-modern, angular pop. Of a very high order.
I should point out, I’ve no idea what the band is called as of this second; hence the qualification in the header. They carelessly hadn’t noticed that there’s already a rabble named The Singles on the go – who have helpfully issued a cease and desist notice. After the vinyl was pressed up. Quality work from the management team there. Whatever, it’s on Soundcloud and they’re doubtless scratching their collective arses to come up with a new moniker. Expect to see the original pressing under the now forbidden name on Ebay for about eight million quid in a few weeks or so.
All that guff aside, what’s it like? Very very good. Did I mention that? A brutal, electronic road drill opening gives way to sweet girly vocals and the hookiest of hooks. “You’re the candy to my heart” our leading lady et al coo and sweeping keyboard melodies drag you helplessly over the rattling percussion whilst a simple, insistent riff marks time in the background..
If you don’t wanna dance to this you are dead, deaf or both. It’s sugary, sure, but it has attitude. It’s no weak, saccharine, embarrassing stodge or frippery that you may be expecting from an A-Lister dabbling her shapely toes in the disco duck pond . Timeless pop with enough digital bleeps and squeaks chucked in to keep all the family entertained – even the heads down moody contingent.
Ms J. has stated her admiration for The Go-Go’s and they are operating in the same milieu. It has broad broad appeal but, dreadful word, credibility. Unashamed, unabashed, effortless.
Out of the excellent Federal Prism stable and produced by David Sitek this has pedigree and is a genuinely impressive effort. Put this on…listen to it…muse a little…put it on again twice as loud.
Irresistible.