Single Reviews

You can’t help but admire Sande’s journey from medicine student to songwriter for Cowell’s cronies, and now a pop star in her own right. Winner of the ‘Critic’s Choice’ award at the BRITs, she’s worked hard to get here, but there’s more work to do if she is to justify the hype. Sadly, new single ‘Next To Me’ does little to excite.

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Maverick Sabre is an Irish singer and rapper born in Hackney – sounds decidedly like the late Amy Winehouse at the beginning of ‘No One’. Not a bad comparison at first glance, is it? However, as the single progresses, the soulful heartache of Winehouse is displaced by a far more knowing, cynical sheen – as if Sabre is distinctly aware of the sound he is aspiring to.

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‘Piece by Piece’ from London dark pop/electronica/dubstep/trip hop trio Charleston is rather astonishing: a debut single that feels fully formed, and demonstrates expertise and confidence rather than simply rough potential. Their sound is nocturnal and brooding, easily evoking comparisons with that of The xx.

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The Tricks, a London-based band tipped by some for big things in 2012, emerge here with their debut single, a double A-side of Just For the Summer and Remember Me. Both tracks display impressive musicianship, and lead singer Joel Hodge’s vocals easily stand out against the band’s raucous sound.

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English electro-rock duo The Big Pink’s latest single, ‘Hit the Ground (Superman)’, has been buzzing about for a couple of months now, and is yet to win us at EB over with its dangerously whiny vocals, pedestrian guitar line and unobtrusive synths. While these boys can arguably produce some catchy tunes, they always manage to leave us stifling a yawn.

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