The first time I saw La Shark live, they were playing Fabric. If you’ve been to the London superclub (or, indeed, if you’ve heard La Shark), you’ll understand what an odd combination this is. The sparse crowd (most of whom were there, I think, to see Star Slinger) stood in varying states of amazement as this inscrutable bunch dived around the stage, covered it in water, strapped on rollerskates, stripped off, and generally flailed around in the most entertaining way imaginable.
La Shark, then, are a live band above all else. They understand that live performance doesn’t just involve playing your songs in a competent fashion. Rather, it means putting on a show – and in their case, that show is about fun, humour, amusement and the absurd.
Luckily, though, the band have the songs to back it up – as their latest single demonstrates. ‘Magazine Cover’ is a spring-loaded, swivel-eyed pop song that sits somewhere in the middle of a venn diagram consisting of XTC, early ’70s Bowie, and the exquisitely self-referential Peckham art scene. It’s ridiculous, and ridiculously brilliant.
‘Magazine Cover’ is out on Popular/Fierce Panda on 14 November.
- AJ Tracey links up with Pozer on new track, "Heaterz"
- ROSÉ shares new single, "Number One Girl"
- Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee feature on Patterson Hood's first solo album in 12 years, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams
- Sacred Paws return with first release in five years, "Another Day"
- Nao announces her fourth concept album, Jupiter
- Rahim Redcar covers SOPHIE's "It's OK To Cry"
- Banks announces her fifth studio album, Off With Her Head
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday
Kendrick Lamar
GNX
Father John Misty
Mahashmashana
Kim Deal
Nobody Loves You More
