Oh, The World Is Ridiculous!

BODIES OF WATER

You do not need to own guitars
You do not need a set of drums

Usually, it would be rather contradictory of a rock band to include such lyrics in a song. However, Bodies of Water's insistence that "all you need is your throat and mine" is entirely accurate and unironic. Despite Our Friends Appear Like The Dawn being punctuated by piano, organ and trumpet stabs, the cheering vocal melody is the one indespensible thing that makes it so stomach-churningly powerful.

By tapping into the Polyphonic Spree's patented 'more is better' theory, this band realises that having four human beings in a band means that you also have four sets of vocal chords at your disposal. No matter what the subject is, when everybody sings or yells at once, it is sure to sound universal and rousing. Over thirteen songs - as on their excellent and excellently-titled debut album Ears Will Pop and Eyes Will Blink - it results in an album of timeless campfire anthems.

Our Friends Appear Like The Dawn (from Said The Gramophone)
Doves Circle The Sky (live video)

Their myspace

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit.

WHITE RABBITS


On White Rabbits' official site, they include a 'Press' section which - rather than linking to Pitchfork's glowing review of their debut album 'Fort Nightly' - consists of a number of often disparaging reviews from 13-year old schoolkids. One of the more appreciative children makes a sidenote to state that they are in the school orchestra and so knows "alot about music". This is obviously true, because they then concisely describe White Rabbits without their fellow reviewers' need for incaccurate and repellent comparisons to the likes of The Strokes, Muse, Madness or Arctic Monkeys.

"nice beat, great choice of notes, flows quite well, fine choice of words"

This summary could easily be elaborated upon to include references to their beautiful summertime Calypso piano lines, powerful double drumming, multi-layered vocal and instrumental harmonies and mass singalongs ("We held our tongues throughout it, one day we'll laugh about it!"), but those few words are simple and understated enough to simultaneously address and reflect the wonderful pop music of White Rabbits.

Kid On My Shoulders
The Plot

Their myspace

White Rabbits were performing in Dublin last Saturday night at Nokia Trends Lab's inaugural event, alongside Simple Kid (download Simp's free 3-track EP here) and Halves. The Rabbits and The Kid will both be returning to Ireland in September to play on Electric Picnic's 'Nokia Trends Lab' stage. The stage will also host - at least - three more of the festival's highlights; The Kissaway Trail, Good Shoes and The Little Ones.