It seems right as the year rushes onto its climax, that there is much reflection on what has been. One of the musical talents who really made their mark in 2011 were electropopsters Metronomy and that 80s tinged pop does seem to be the flavour of month at the moment, replacing the 2010 folk charge, although it isn’t to say that the latter hasn’t entirely left the building just yet!

It is the 80s electropop that floods throughout the work of London based foursome Kites. Their debut single Brother opens with three noted arpeggio around which the rest of the track builds, gently adding vocals, bass and guitars in progressive sections. The beat that kicks in is in perfect timing to the vocals and lands Kites into disco territory, before the other band members rejoin the fray. There are vocal moments, that with a handclap could be Jarvis Cocker in his prime, yet the biggest influence is New Order. The rhythmic pattern of electronic notes, the empathetic almost pleading pleasuring vocals, with the thick bass notes. The track fading away as it tries to pick up that initial theme, but as much as the story has changed, so has the emphasis of the arpeggio, which lacks the initial force that opened Brother.

The b-side to Brother is Art Tastes Better Blind, where the track is this time created around those deep echoey electro-drums that featured on many big scale 80s music. For all Art Tastes Better Blind continues the theme that Kites are so comfortable in, it just doesn’t quite have the appealing contrasts and layered approach that shines through on Brother, but Art Tastes Better Blind is a B-side so that almost should be expected.

So long as 2012 doesn’t surprise us all and decide on a complete shift in musical direction, then certainly expect to hear plenty more of Kites as they look to build on this solid debut single.

Reviewed by Jimbo Walsh.

Kites’ debut single Brother with B-side Art Tastes Better Blind is out now and available to purchase from their bandcamp page.