Dont run, rave to your grave!
The start of a New Year always brings a rash of predictions of what band is going to make a breakthrough to the public and The Mae Shi, from Los Angeles, have popped up in one or two of the more left-field lists of hopes for 2008 and ‘Run To Your Grave’ indiates why.
If you could do a scientific mash-up of some of 2007’s best loved acts then a cross of Arcade Fire and electronic backing along the lines of a light Klaxons would favour highly and its hard to get this idea out of your head from this track.
The vocals have that sky-reaching shouting style so beloved by the Arcades in their most emphatic moments and the mixture of live drumming pounding away over the tinny electronica section, which doubles as a seductive opener, covers a few bases for the band to appeal to. The lead vocals also bring to mind Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, particularly the way the delivery cracks and wavers at the end of some lines but it adds some emotion and works well, which proves that realness can be better than studio perfection at times.
They may not be as lauded as the Adeles and Duffys and all the “like Amy but more mentally stable” artists that record labels are flooding the market with this year and will turn out to be an expensive case of the Emperors New Clothes but The Mae Shi have what it takes to be one of the bands who make the sound of 2008 come alive, get your dancing shoes and see you down the front.