Now for some music you may not have expected. Their music is a cacophony of guitars and drums, frantic and unpredictable. By definition, I shouldn’t like The Noisettes. But I do. And very much so. Almost entirely due to the lead singer, Shingai Shoniwa. Shingai’s voice is reminiscent of Billie Holiday, Etta James, and Karen O at her finest and most vulnerable. Her personal background is perhaps more captivating. She has mentioned that her childhood growing up in a public-works housing development in London has a lot to do with the music she produces. I particularly like this quote: “I think escapism is something that connects all of us. Everybody has their own little soundtrack, and I guess I’m trying to make my own soundtrack to my escape plan. I want people to realize that there’s so much more” (Venus Zine). The songs are unquestionably melodic despite the hellish crashing sounds behind Shingai’s pleading vocals. Have your way with some samples below to see what I mean:

DL: The Noisettes – Scratch Your Name
DL: The Noisettes – Rifle Song
DL: The Noisettes – IWE

Just today, the band posted a new message on their Myspace. The little “to-do” list includes creating their new album and touring the new material. So far, they have about forty songs demoed and ready to go, so an album cannot be too far away. I love their description of the new album’s sound:

note: follow up must be a: Absolutely fucking kick ass, b; but also soulful c; familiar in some respects to what we have done before, d: but in other ways completely UNRECOGNISEABLE but as appealing as the smell of broiling Big Mac’s on the station concourse at Victoria Station at 11am after pub closing e: not rely on the shameful mass slaughter of beautiful farmyard animals that has characterised the former, f: or any dubious non-farmyard animal parts g: NOT contain any songs in the key of ‘G’, h: Absolutely NOT be called “Noisettes II” or … wait… that’s not bad actually… )

Here’s hoping that they’ll follow through. Though I’m personally hoping the aforementioned animal appendage are included in the next release.