The ShortListen: United Sounds of Joy (no. 257)

Who? United Sounds of Joy

What’s the story? United Sounds of Joy members Michael J. Sheehy and Alex Vald have a slightly strange past, given that the latter was kicked out of the former's old band, the Beggars Banquet-signed Dream City Film Club. Apparently "Alex was dismissed because he was the only decent human being in the band. We were intent on dismantling the band from the off, everyone was pulling in different directions, each with his own very particular variety of personality disorder, drug abuse or mental illness, and if all that stuff hadn't of got us then I'm sure we would have buckled beneath the weight of our very lofty pretensions." An excellent reasoning if ever we've heard one. However, now together again, years on, in a common cause, they've created a self-titled album, due for release on 25 March on Bronzerat, and we're delighted to premiere the video for the second track to be unveiled from it. I Hear Her Call My Name is a gently, psychedelic, almost nursery rhyme-style affair with soft, vaguely menacing vocals, while a variety of sounds and textures weave in and out. It's strange and beautiful, give it a spin.

For fans of: Goldfrapp, Damon Albarn

In three words: Fuzzy pop noir