Single: Cane 141 / Stephen Hero

Tracks: Cycle Variation / It Grew In The Fire

Label: Track & Field

Cane 141 and Stephen Hero work together here to produce something you might not expect to emerge from the usual upbeat sounds of the Track & Field organisation, but both songs have the charm that is present on every Track & Field release. ‘Cycle Variation’ has the tune of a more focused Sigur R?s backed by the casual but direct lyrics of Stephen Hero. It’s slow, melodic and lays down an almost faultless blend of new wave and electronic sounds.

‘It Grew In The Fire’ is a far more haunting track, perhaps if the Icelandic band Mùm swapped the wispy female vocals for the almost ghostly whisper of Cane 141 this is what the end product would be. It fuzzes and vibrates right the way through until it finishes. However, the record perhaps lacks the kick that other bands that revolve around this genre have and both of the tracks seem to struggle to reach for what they aiming for…whatever that may be.

Richard Collings, 7/10