HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week - Duos

Duos are a very enigmatic and curious band set-up. Whatever the gender arrangement within the duo might be, to me there has always been an intriguing dynamic within the relationship and music of two people writing and performing together, often within very close intellectual and physical conditions. There is an assumed depth of understanding and intimacy, even an emotional idyll placed onto the duo concept, between two individuals who can work collectively to create beautiful songs, unlike bands where there is often a consent fight for supremacy. There is also of course an additional appreciation of musical diversity that duos have, in that usually both members of musical duos are multi-instrumentalists, and their live performances can often require a huge degree of intellectual and logistical chorography. Duos are very hip at the moment. There are a lot of duos gaining popularity, especially within the alt-indie scene, some of which are listed below. I have also thrown a couple of staple duos from music past; just to add a slice of intrigue to your weekly dose of HCE playlist action.

Tennis – “Marathon”
Gorgeous husband and wife duo Tennis have with “Marathon” created a quietly upbeat track, full of tight little references to American popular music cultures of yore. It ticks all the hip alternative boxes - girl vocals, lo-fi elements, striped down production etc., but it also retains a quirky, retro feel. They have a new album out imminently.

Tennis - Marathon by Vicente P

Peter Wolf Crier – “Crutch & Cane”
All-English, all-male duo Peter Wolf Crier fall into the new Mumford/Marling school of roughly produced, bittersweet anti-folk. For me though Peter Wolf Crier have a certain je ne sais quoi; an indiscernible difference in their disposition and musical delivery that put them at the pinnacle of the new British folk scene. “Crutch & Cane” is my favourite song of theirs, with beautifully harmonic melodies in the chorus especially.

Peter Wolf Crier - Crutch & Cane by The Drift Record Shop

Oh My! – “Run This Town”
This very young, new girly duo are on the cusp of fame and fortune. They are very much a pop band, but they have an edge and an attitude that proliferates the music much like girl bands that existed before the likes of The Saturdays and Girls Aloud. With hints of 80s hip hop and early 90s electro pop, they are a lot more interesting than the usual.

OH MY! Run This Town by OhMyOfficial

The White Stripes – “300 M.P.H. Outpour Blues”
Any excuse to throw in The White Stripes. This is my favourite White Stripes song, from my favourite album. Yes, Jack was the major creative force behind this duo, but in my opinion he has not churned out any work through his other projects that even approach the glories of this album. Meg must have been doing something right.

The White Stripes - 300 M.P.H. Toorrential Outpour Blues by sound is vibration

Outkast – “Ms Jackson”
I laboured hugely over which Outkast track to pick here – they have created so much fantastic music over the years. Ultimately I had to go for an song off the masterpiece that was Stankonia, and although it is an obvious choice, “Ms Jackson” is a classic for a reason.



Slow Club – “It Doesn’t Have to be Beautiful”
Even if you are not knowingly familiar with Slow Club, chances are you have probably been exposed to their unembellished brand of simple folk rock before, as it has been used in TV advertising. There is something lovely, youthful and infectious about this track; it may be rather fatalistic in its lyrical subject matter, but its effervescent positivity is wonderfully enjoyable.



Summer Camp – “Round the Moon”
Summer Camp are a band that continue to be shrouded in mystery. Little is known about them, apart from that they are a male/female duo from London. They make interesting C-86 meets Californian synth pop, nodding significantly to chill-wave along the way. This is a lovely single of theirs from last year, with an eerily bewitching synth lead and touching vocals.

Summer Camp - Round The Moon by blckdmnds3