Woman’s Hour

Location: London via Kendal

Woman’s Hour are a four piece who perfectly bring together all the biggest scenes in contemporary indie. Taking a big chunk of The xx’s isolated atmospherics, a smattering of skittish Vampire Weekend guitars, a big chunk of Warpaint’s enticing ability to go with the flow on a sonic migration, and even some delicious chillwave-esk smears. What’s not to love?

The four piece is led by vocalist Fiona Burgess who is backed by William Burgess, Nicolas Graves and Josh Hunnisett on guitar, bass and keyboards respectively. Note no drummer, and it’s true that that the band are driven by arresting guitar and bass interplay and Fiona’s ear grabbing vocals as opposed to any conventional rhythm section, and the majority of the drum work is intensely perfunctory.

Fiona’s lyrics are powerfully alluring on “Jenni”, you’ll find yourself drawn in to her deadpan descriptions. Her vocals give the band a distinctive sense of Englishness as the words “it’s the same old story” slovenly roll from her lips, that could otherwise be lost against a distinctly American wall of noise. “Human” is where The xx come in, the bass burbles frustratedly, and Fiona feels isolated before the depressive male-female vocal interplay emerges. There’s an amazing sense of space on the record, even in the face of a claustrophobically burbling synth line. It’s almost as if isolation and boredom itself is impossibly crowding and crushing the defiant vocalist, while the dub step style percussion which snaps and thuds is certain to send chills racing down your spine.

With just two tracks under their belt, Woman’s Hour have displayed a frightening breadth of talent, who knows what there third single will sound like, but I sure as hell can’t wait to hear it. David Hayter

The Buzz: Woman’s Hour can do it all, and while critics argue whether they’re post-xx or post-Vampire Weekend we’ll simply sit back and enjoy the show.

For Fans Of: Warpaint, The xx, Vampire Weekend and Austra (kinda).

Website: Tumblr & Myspace