Films of Colour were already building up a head of steam and picked up a favourable review on the pages of Grumpyrocker on release of their Capital single and accompanying b-side Persinette. However, Films of Colour haven’t rested on their lauded laurels and December will see them release new single Slow Burn. What makes the release of Slow Burn particularly exciting is that not only is it a cover of the original David Bowie number, but that the man who produced Bowie’s original version of Slow Burn, Tony Visconti, was so impressed by the Films of Colour version, that he is now in the studio working with the band.

To celebrate the collaborative working between Visconti and Films of Colour, the band have released Slow Burn, with accompanying artwork which is an evocative tribute to Bowie’s Ziggy era stylings. Whereas the Bowie version is only nine years old and benefited greatly from the inclusion of Pete Townshend on guitar, Films of Colour take that guitar opening and translate it into the rapid drum, piano and percussion effects that dominated much of 80s music. The prelude to the vocals allows a crashing cacophony of sounds to collide, before Andy Clutterbuck arrives sounding all effected and echoey. In its quieter choral moments Slow Burn reveals a side to Films of Colour that feels very Doves-ish, but that’s probably because like Doves’ reference to their SubSub days, Films of Colour effectively bring that early 90s Hacienda sound into a relevant setting for today’s music.

For all Slow Burn is still similarly recognisable as the original David Bowie track, there is enough up tempo pop to keep it fresh and not a straight cover of the original. What it does demonstrate is that Films of Colour have definitely got something that is going to get more and more people talking with excited hushed voices. Slow Burn? At this rate there will be nothing slow about how quickly Films of Colour ignite.

Reviewed by Jimbo Walsh.

Slow Burn by Films of Colour is released on 12 December 2011 from the bands own website where you can watch the video for the single now.