Watch: Kites – “This Jumped Up Boy In Livery”

When watching the new video for Kites latest single, “This Jumped Up Boy In Livery”, our initial and overriding thought was, ‘it’s very Matthew isn’t it?’. The Charlie Chaplin inspired routine, directed and choreographed by actor Christian Roe, fits singer Matthew Phillip’s dandy sensibilities like a favoured smoking jacket.

It is an astute choice of cinematic history to pay homage to, acting, as it does, as the perfect visual embodiment of the song’s wonderfully decadent self-indulgence. The putting on of the character before the desperate to please performance in front of an unmoved audience brings life to lyrics conceived following a period of self doubt. While Matthew’s introspection may have lead him to question the likelihood of his own success, “This Jumped Up Boy In Livery” leaves us in no doubt that it must only be just around the corner.

Following on from previous single, “Brother”, “This Jumped Up Boy…” continues the bands record of producing fiercely intelligent and entertaining electro-pop, which of itself should be enough to guarantee success. Add in the essential je ne sais quoi of their eloquent and engaging English gent of a frontman, and surely it won’t be long before Matthew is singing songs of celebration, not self-deprecation.

“This Jumped Up Boy In Livery” is due for release on 1 October, in the meantime, check out the video below.

Read More
In Pictures: Kites at Cargo, London/ Exclusive Stream: Look, Stranger! Remixes Kites / Kites Release New Track: “This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery” / On an upward trajectory – Interview with Kites’ Matthew Phillips / Listen: Kites Debut Single – “Brother”

In Pictures: Kites at Cargo, London

Long time Alphabet Bands favourites Kites took to the stage at London’s Cargo last night, in support of Jonquil, and rocked the house.

A sparse crowd soon became a legion of singing, dancing, bouncing happy people as Matthew Philips and co ripped through their set. You get the impression that these self-confessd ‘gig sluts’ would put the same energy and enthusiasm into their show if they were playing in front of 5, 500, or 5,000 people.

See More Pictures: HERE

Listen: Kites Debut Single – “Brother”

Kites are fast establishing themselves as perhaps the young band to watch in 2012 and they have already had praise lavished upon them by music press and the blogosphere alike. We could bore you with lazy comparisons to artists of days gone by with whom they share aspects of sound and sensibility (Depeche Mode, New Order, Talking Heads, yadda yadda yadda), but practically everyone else who has drafted a paragraph or more about this erudite four-piece has already done so. No, what you want to hear is, are they actually any good and where can I see / hear them?

There’s a very simple answer to the first question; yes, yes they are. Since forming in 2010, the family Kites has created some splendid tracks that just keep getting better and better. The pick of the bunch being their debut single “Brother” (they have previously released a couple of EPs).

Front man Matthew sings with silver-tongued precision and melancholia, regaling us with a tale of two brothers and their estrangement. A simple organ introduction is soon replaced with a dark bass line, building layer upon layer as the story develops, heartache prevalent as Matthew implores, “I find you/ right now I’m in swift pursuit”, and describes the multitude of ways in which he had been seeking his long lost sibling. It is a fantastically crafted and heartfelt tale, a master class in storytelling through song.

“Brother” is out on 24 October and will be backed by “Art Tastes Better Blind” as the B side. You can catch the guys in London in October, details and a very special stream of the single are below.

3 October – Shacklewell Arms, London (with INTL and special guest DJ)
12 October – Bloomsbury Lanes, London (Headline show)
27 October – Electricity Showrooms, London (Strangers Club)