Junior Boys - Hazel
The first single from their forthcoming third album Begone Dull Care, Hazel sees the return of electronic indie outfit Junior Boys. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, the pair have now been producing their unique brand of infectious pop for a whole decade.
Starting with a hard beat that wouldn't have been unwelcome on a mid-80s Michael Jackson record, it's immediately clear that the band's new material is not simply an afterthought to 2006’s So This Is Goodbye.
There is a measured restraint that really gives the feeling that Junior Boys have spent some time developing their sound; a measured restraint that's rarely employed in pop music to such a great effect.
Simplicity and sterility often lead to the impression that important elements might have been cleaned away from a track, but here the absence of anything too fancy or convoluted only serves to magnify what's there; upbeat effervescence with a driving pulse and nostalgic undertones.
Beautifully modern with one foot in the past, Hazel is an understated pop triumph that is bound to be remixed to high heaven throughout the summer.
Rating: 5/5
FemaleFirst - Anthony Hill