black lips, THE presets, born ruffians and more - singles for THE week beginning may 12!

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS / SHADOWS (CHARISMA) If someone slapped Air around the chops and told them to write a science fiction disco number, this is the kind of euphoric beast they’d come back with. It chomps away with it’s big, gnashing techno teeth - but falls shy of delivering a knockout chorus. THE PRESETS / THIS BOY’S IN LOVE (MODULAR) More Depeche Mode grave robbing here, as The Presets go about sounding like a soundtrack to a late ’80s vampire movie (perhaps Fright Night, perhaps The Lost Boys). It’s smooth synths and hard beats all the way - impressively produced but rather unremarkable. BORN RUFFIANS / I NEED A LIFE (WARP) This strangely pleasing record starts like a downtrodden lament, then gradually picks itself up, dusts itself down, and begins erupting with fun juice. Which is conclusive proof that you should never underestimate the cunning of a Warp records act. JUSTICE / DVNO (ED BANGER) Their thudding techno beats are thicker and funkier than your thudding techno beats, don’tcha know? And this time they’re even thicker, harder and thudding than ever before! That’s right, Justice are back, and they’re still flash bastards. CRIMES OF THE FUTURE / SCREEN VILLAINS (ZAP SYSTEM) There’s a distinctly B52’s-esque flavour to this single, and it’s largely down to Sally Moriarty’s teasing, relaxed vocals. Behind her there’s a fair share of space beats and noodling acoustics going down, although it doesn’t quite sparkle like fizzy pop.