Moshi Moshi Singles Compilation 2008-2010

Label: Moshi Moshi Release date: 03/05/10 Website: Moshi Moshi Website The Moshi Moshi Single’s Club has been rolling for going on five years now and at this point that’s quite a few 7” singles to sift through. Thankfully Moshi Moshi has given us their second Moshi Moshi Singles Compilation. This one focuses its efforts on the series of one off singles released from 2008-2010 and there are some pretty astounding songs here. I’ll be perfectly honest; I wasn’t too familiar with Moshi Moshi as a label but looking only at the 14 bands on this cd it’s quite the astounding label. Since these songs are far too different to review as a distinct album, I’m going to look a little more in depth at each one. The output of this disc focuses on some of Moshi Moshi’s electro-pop flavoured releases, with the exception of the opener, Florence + The Machine’s ‘Kiss With A Fist’. Ms. Welch has been a victim of the hype cycle more than any artist of recent memory. Her rapid ascent with ‘Lungs’ and her subsequent blacklisting in the indie community says more about the modern music than can be covered in my meagre word limit here, but all of that aside ‘Kiss With A Fist’ is an insanely catchy song and as such a fitting start to this compilation. All the way through, the melodies are highlighted. Even ‘Rosenrød’, the instrumental electronic single from Norwegian laptop manipulator Diskjokke, has several recurrent melodies that will end up stuck in your head for weeks on end. While each song has its own individual merits, there are several that stand a cut above the rest. Signals’ contribution, ‘Silverfish’, is nothing short of astounding. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys a couple of months ago and the unbridled energy that they bring to the stage translates just as well in studio. Singer Jon Gray’s nasal wails are sure to be off-putting to some, but it hits these ears just right. Ok, so I’ll admit I don’t share the 405’s collective obsession with Fanfarlo. I’ve heard bits and pieces of Reservoir, but nothing that I’d heard really struck me as too interesting or worthwhile. However, after giving an ungodly number of plays to ‘Drowning Men’, that opinion has drastically shifted. It reminds me a bit of Neon Bible-era Arcade Fire and I have to say that with the exception of Signals’ contribution it’s probably the best on this release. That leaves ten songs that I’ve not directly mentioned, but that’s no particular slight. Each song on this CD is worth hearing. Whether it be the insular beats that drive James Yuill’s ‘No Pins Allowed’ or the whistling on The Drums ‘Let’s Go Surfing’, there are astounding things about each song. Moshi Moshi is asking for our attention, and judging by this release alone, they deserve it.