Micachu And The Shapes – Never

 Micachu & the Shapes – Never (Rough Trade) 

The sloppy, loveable mess of a record that was Micachu & the Shapes’ 2009 debut, Jewellery, was one of the freshest-sounding releases that year. After last year’s live album Chopped & Screwed, this London outfit are back and ready to colour outside the lines of pop all over again with Never. Though it’s somewhat less hyperactive than their debut, the ultra lo-fi production and kitchen-sink instrumentation that gave that record much of its particular cacophonous charm remain. Leading lady Mica Levi and her measured, androgynous vocals serve as a sort of Cesar Milan-esque noise whisperer, holding the leashes of a bouncing, happy pack of instruments of all shapes, sizes and sounds. Without her it would be a chaotic mess, but with her it makes for a liberating listen.

Watch the strange video for the single Never here:

MICACHU & THE SHAPES – NEVER