The Music Fix may have fewer singles than an edition of Take Me Out, but our round-up is a far less traumatic experience to sit through. So which of this week's releases are buttering TMF's muffin and which should be left on the shelf?

Slugabed - 'Ultra Heat Treated' EP
Suitably squelchy and reassuringly robotic EP of electronic loveliness. Slugabed aka Greg Feldwick is making a massive splash with his first release on Planet Mu. The title track takes an ever oscillating journey over fractured beats punctuated by occasional vocal stabs. Despite the complexity of his programming there is no shortage of foot tapping rhythms eager to spring forth. (AM)

Field Music - 'Them That Do Nothing'
This single is so influenced by The Beatles that even sending it off to find enlightenment in Rishikesh whilst reading Thomas The Tank Engine would make little difference to its fab four credentials. It is simply an awesome single, with no tricks or frills, just 100% pure pop. (AM)



Esben and The Witch - 'Lucia, At The Precipice'
This Brighton trio graduated the year after Bat For Lashes from the Tavistock School of Spook-Rock. ‘Lucia, At The Precipice’ is a haunting ditty which sends more shivers down your spine than suddenly realising you are stuck on a long haul flight next to June Sarpong. (AM)

You Me At Six - 'Underdog'
There way well be a decent song struggling to escape from this over produced, wannabe America pop-punk but it will drown in pro-tools polish before it succeeds. Huge with the kids I’m sure, but this underdog should be put out of its misery before it bites anyone. They clearly have talent and it’d be interesting to hear what they’d come up with were they not trying to be the Monkees to Fall Out Boy’s Beatles. (SB)

Japanese Voyeurs - That Love Sound/Blush
Last year’s ‘Sicking and Creaming’ EP was a full on helium infused, nuclear assault upon the senses which was a tad too self consciously trying to be Daisy Chainsaw but this double A side single finds Japanese Voyeurs easing off on the throttle and finding their own voice. It is still raking over the ashes of Kurt and Courtney but that’s not necessarily a bad thing; an L7 for the new decade. (SB)



Placebo - 'Bright Lights'
Gosh, Placebo have gone all stadium rock. I’d never thought of Brian as the new Jim Kerr but, fair play to him, this works. As good as anything they’ve done to date, this deserves to see some decent chart action but are the public ready? (SB)



Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo - 'Nostalgia'
Fans of BBC’s Wallander will be familiar with this glacial, atmospheric ballad which is borne forth by little more than a squeezebox and the honest beauty of Barker’s voice. Keep an eye out for her appearance at the Larmer Tree festival in July. (SB)




Calvin Harris - 'You Used To Hold Me'
More supremely forgettable dance pop from the outspoken Mr Harris. Repetitive beats combined with banal and pointless lyrics fail to elevate this above anything else he's done. Calvin Harris here makes the mistake of confusing repetition with catchy and this track is all the worse off for it. 'You Used To Hold Me' will be perfectly at home in the middle of your local meat market's Saturday night playlist, but no-one will remember it come closing time. (CP)

Erik Hassle - 'Hurtful'
This reviewer has an apology to make - I was extremely harsh in my review of 'Hurtful' last time around. It wasn't really that bad at all, so having a second chance to review it allows me to put the record straight. Unlike Calvin Harris, Erik Hassle actually has something to say - not relying on becoming an unwelcome ear worm, 'Hurtful' is actually pretty decent, mature pop. It may be the equivalent of Eastenders to Mr Harris' Hollyoaks, but sometimes that's all it takes to elevate out of mediocrity. (CP)



Still Flyin' - 'Runaway Train II'
The bass pumps along nicely and there's an air of David Byrne about the whole thing, but this breezy slice of pop veers into Prefab Spout territory and thus makes me a little uneasy. You suspect there's better still to come. (DB)

Single of the Week

Teenagersintokyo - 'Peter Pan'
Hailing from Down Under, we have yet more eighties-influenced electro pop, this time filed under 'quality'. With a slight punk edge and something of an air of Siouxsie and the Banshees combined with Republica, 'Peter Pan' has a solid beat with an energy that is lacking in most of their modern contemporaries. On the strength of this, Teenagersintokyo's debut album is going to be something special. (CP)

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