One Track Mind

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On November 2rd, The Kora Records will release the U.S. debut from London act Stricken City, and it seems certain that many listeners will take notice. The usual British music press suspects have already fawned over the band; with the ten-track Songs About People I Know, Stateside writers seem destined to follow suit. For starters, there is frontwoman Rebekah Raa, whose vocals radiate an effortless charm and possess the proper proportion of bite. Fold in some smart percussion, glittering guitars, and a keen sense of how to dramatically structure their tunes, and you have Stricken City’s recipe for success.

“Pull the House Down” begins by riding a jaunty, cowbell-laden drum track, followed not far behind by a nervy guitar line and mooing synthesizer. This groove finds itself on an elastic spectrum bookended by the work of The Cribs and Wild Beasts–perhaps there is something distinctly British about its casual spasms? By the time Raa begins working her magic, you have a song most bands would be happy to claim, but Stricken City shapes “Pull the House Down” into something far more impressive. Choruses and bridges are imbued with their own character, each micro-passage with its own feel and selling points. The listener gets treated to the strident notes of post-punk inspired bass, a leisurely breakdown that recalls the best of the female-fronted Brit-pop acts, and an impeccably produced coda.

With “Pull the House Down,” Stricken City have crafted a single that begs for the rest of the record. It’s almost a tease, making listeners wait until November to hear the rest of what the band has up their sleeves, but my guess is it will be worth the wait.