Letting Up Despite Great Faults’ latest release – EP ‘Paper Crush’ – pushes the new wave of genre Shoe-Gaze (aptly titled ‘Nu-Gaze’) into the new millennium’s second decade with six tracks of beautifully crafted somnolent electronica that leave attachments to early trailblazers such as M83 and The Radio Dept. in the past as the group carves out its own unique sound.

A much welcomed fifth release from the Alanta instrumentalist extraordinaire, Kaki King. Taking her outgoing and original style that infuses; guitar drumming, fret tapping and string slapping, and once again pushing it into a different direction. King mentions “My evolution from record to record has been personal not commercial. For example there’s none of the “guitar tapping” that I’m known for. There not a single bit of it on the record except for a half a second on ‘The Hoopers of Hudspeth.'”

If the whole idea of a remix album is to take the originals and re-mould, re-imagine and re-interpret them into something altogether different and unique, then MISSING DEADLINES – SELECTED REMIXES, the latest project from Ulrich Schnauss is the very definition of the genre.

Mixtapes & Cellmates are a 5 piece that hail from Stockholm, Sweden, who formed in 2006 after being inspired by bands such as The Postal Service, Hood, and The Sea & Cake. Mixtapes & Cellmates quickly landed a record deal, which led to the release of several EP’s and a self titled debut album in 2007. SOON, the forthcoming single from album number two, sees a slight change in direction, with the addition of a live drummer, a more expansive guitar sound, and a movement away from electronic influences.[inset side=right]  "...SOON is bubblegum punk pop heaven, it is the sound of the Killers on Prozac..."[/inset]

The change of approach was definitely worth it, brand new single SOON is a perfect slice of sugar coated pop/punk goodness, guaranteed to lift spirits and brighten the day, rather like a chocolate muffin in the morning, or somebody smiling at you from across the street. Frontman Robert Svensson has a rich, colourful voice, that is similar to Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips, but with a little more gusto and verve, and he belts out the vocals with such intensity and vigour it’s hard not to be swept along by it all.

The track buzzes along at a fast pace, generating a four minute head rush; shiny guitar riffs complement lively drumming and a thunderous bass, the chorus is as catchy and infectious as HN51, and all the while you can’t help wanting to sing along or bounce around the room. This is for people who are fans of uplifting guitar pop, SOON is bubblegum punk pop heaven, it is the sound of the Killers on Prozac, or The Ramones on an exchange visit to Sweden. This is a great single and deserves a lot of airplay on the radio, if only to cheer everybody up in these rather gloomy Winter months. So try it, you might like it; just be warned, you might want to brush your teeth afterwards to get rid of the sugar content.