Adjective-driven synth pop from GIANT FANG missed out on the name dropping during the recent piece on Discopolis and Scottish pop. With new single Aqualung launching next Thursday, being less shit than The Temper Trap is reason enough to get the highlighter pen out.
Solo art-pop project turned full band, GIANT FANG is the work of Glasgow musician and producer Douglas Wilson. He writes on Facebook that for their live debut this month he is “borrowing members of Prides, Olympic Swimmers, and Three Blind Wolves for my band, this is going to be special!!”
THE SINGLE – AQUALUNG
Listening to it for the first time today, it put me in mind of 80s pop like Simple Minds updated for today’s Radio 1 audience. Streaming the track now and you’ll appreciate how it sounds less awful than the picture I’ve just painted. The single Aqualung is similar in style to The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition. Which was a massive hit if 2.8 million YouTube views is anything to go by.
Epic pop for daytime radio isn’t really my thing unless we’re discussing THE UNWINDING HOURS. To me daytime radio songs aiming for epicness end up sounding hollow and false, a product of blind careerism over passion. That’s the challenge for an artist such as GIANT FANG, to not sound like yet another false emotion.
Given my distaste for such bands, Aqualung as a song has managed to sidestep enough of the negatives of the genre that I’m writing about it today. It surprised me. Unlike ‘Sweet Disposition’ I’d probably leave it on my custom playlist for Pro Evo Soccer on PS3 (you can edit songs that soundtrack the game) which in my case features imported tunes by likes of Happy Particles and Admiral Fallow. That’s about as high praise as you’ll get from me. Tunes to pick your tactics to!
THE SINGLE LAUNCH – ARTSCHOOL GLASGOW
The NME say: “fantastic, fluorescent electro pop”.
Ally McCrae (Radio 1) says: “huge, luscious synth pop”.
MILK presents: GIANT FANG single launch feat. The Yawns + Plum (Art School).
Every once in a while something special comes along…
GIANT FANG is Glasgow-based musician/producer Douglas Wilson. He probably doesn’t need an introduction, because you’ve already heard his name on the radio, all over the internet, and maybe even round your gran’s house (she is so street).
To celebrate the release of debut single Aqualung through Pop unLTD, we’re having a party at the Art School. With lights and strobes and support from garage-pop wonderclub The Yawns and electronic queen of the universe Plum.
SINGLE LAUNCH EVENT PAGE DETAILS HERE
LISTEN TO GIANT FANG ON SOUNDCLOUD
