‘Control’ is the new single from Londoners Desperate Journalist, whom are fast rising to become one of our favourite bands of the moment. Swooping in on a tangle of Rob Hardy’s 12 string arpeggio assault, cavernous drums and dexterous baselines, Detailing a relationship that’s seemingly turned into a literal battle of wills, Jo Bevan’s knowing vocal tone entrances and then pierces: she possesses that rare ability to play with you, to ironically dismiss(“What a fantastic growth rate/Darling, go fill up your plate”) artfully reworking phrases that in the hands of some could sound clumsy but in hers sound positively weighty, powerfully affecting and ultimately self affirming(“It’s like a hole in your head/I’m a thoroughbred”).
While the backing is sinuous and widescreen, atmospheric yet pulsing, faintly reminiscent of the ghosts 80s and 90s grandest indie sounds but never in awe of their heroes. This beauty cowers, creeps and then pounces on you when you aren’t looking, the chorus firing off boldly, vigorously and quite thrillingly with a fearsome melodic punch that is sadly lacking in most bands of today. Desperate Journalist might have been one of my tips for 2014, but their sumptuous forthcoming self titled debut album(which you can stream below) makes them firmly approved for 2015 and well beyond that too….
