Mountaineers – Ripen (Mute)

The first single of twisted pop from the Welsh/Liverpudlian trio Alex, Ceri and Tomas. Located somewhere between The Coral, The Beta Band and Depeche Mode, there’s a love of odd noises and strange beats combined with catchy melodies and real instruments. Ripen is the first taste of their debut long-player, Messy Century, out 29 September 03. Top-notch.

Stellastarr* - Jenny (20-20 Recordings)

With a voice more energetic than Jarvis, busy bass lines and sudden changes in the general new wave direction, Stellastarr* are rather interesting. Album out 23 September 03.

Interpol – Obstcle 1 (Matador)

The dark New Yorkers go a bit Suede, only punkier and darker, under the watchful eye of Arthur Barker. It’s also quite Joy Division. And catchy. And dark.

Fort Lauderdale – The Chilling Place (Memphis Industries)

Singer Nathanial Blonde joins the London duo to produce a strange concoction of lounge pop. Discordant synths and a rock guitar solo make this, um, interesting…

The Infadels – Leave Your Body (Dead At Thirty)

Debut synth-punk-funk single from Hackney three-piece. Robot voices and a large rack of keyboards contribute to the general 80s vibe. Catchy but unadventurous.

Electric Soft Parade – Things I’ve Done Before (BMG)

The indy brothers, now legally allowed to drink, have a new album on the way. They’ve found a guitar slide and rock out in an unpredictable, but ultimately bland, way.

Matt Walton 12 September 03

All singles released 15 September 03.