Listen: Our Mother - "Fire Fire"

13 May 2014, 09:45 | Written by Chris Taylor

(Tracks)

(Our Mother)

When, in 2007, Battles dropped their still-exciting debut Mirrored, everything seemed much weirder. The avant-pop vibe, with its scattered beat, jabbing guitars and unusual time signatures, led to an album that was bursting with creativity and overflowing with ideas; one of those albums that really stuck with you simply because it was so unique. New London-based band, Our Mother, are very much in that same wheelhouse, but sound more like Battles if they were taking five in the tropics as opposed to bouncing around the place.

One half of their upcoming double-sided single is “Fire Fire”, which has much of the wild creativity that Battles displayed but turned down to a more mellow level. It all starts very unconventionaly, with skittering percussion and erratic guitar stabs dropped in willy-nilly, before brass samples and further guitar samples are dropped on top to make a mature, beautiful little track.

It feels like the musical equivalent of an elaborate mosaic; none of the pieces seem like they should fit together but they slot into place perfectly to create a unique and wonderful whole. Couple that with serene vocals and “Fire Fire” becomes a stunningly realised pop song with a relaxed vibe, in spite of all the erratic elements present.