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Single Review: Trophy Wife – The Quiet Earth / White Horses

Oxford’s Trophy Wife, your #5 band on our 10 for 2011 poll at the end of last year, will be releasing a double-A sided single, ‘The Quiet Earth’ / ‘White Horses’, on 28 February on Moshi Moshi Records.

‘Microlite’ (reviewed in October 2010 on TGTF) had an amazing rhythmic sensibility to it, something that bleeds over into ‘The Quiet Earth’ and ‘White Horses’. I can see why the band are choosing to release this as a double-A single – both songs are strong, unique and worthy of being shown off for their brilliance. Forget the band’s previous throwaway genre ‘ambitionless office disco’: heck, if I worked in an office that played this kind of music, I think I’d be thanking my lucky stars. It’s not overt dance music, but I think it’d work in a club with a chill vibe. ‘The Quiet Earth’ has an awesome guitar melody overlaid on a driving drum rhythm, and an insistent chorus: “when it comes, don’t you hesitate…”

I’m not sure how I would react if I ever saw Trophy Wife live. Rather than jump up and down, I think I’d probably be doing some sort of less aggressive, swaying back and forth movements. Despite the presence of a sexy, underlying rhythm section and sultry vocals, there is something gentle, something precious (obvious in ‘White Horses’, especially) about the Trophy Wife sound. Something that makes you want to hold it in your arms, close to your heart. I can’t imagine this band being a best-kept secret for much longer. Jump on this bandwagon before everyone and their nan says they’re fans.

Oh dear.

It’s only halfway through January and I think I’m in love. ::grin::

9/10

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc9dQkNtRJk[/youtube]

For more on Trophy Wife, read our 10 for 2011 interview we did with the band in December. If you’re interested in catching Trophy Wife live, they will be appear on a Skins-themed gig date on the 29th of January and will also be supporting Esben and the Witch on their UK tour starting at the end of this month through the second week of February (details here).