Single Selection: Gravitonas ~ Kites (or My bard will go on...)

I do adore the outrageous pop empressario known as Alexander Bard. He has had his finger well and truly in the pie of many brilliant pop groups including Army of Lovers, Vacuum and most recently BWO (the artists formerly known as Bodies Without Organs). The latter group I think was one of the defining pop groups AND pop statements of the first decade of the new millenium. The music was always infernally catchy, mostly impressively creative and the videos always visually arresting. What more could a boy want, other than perhaps the UK recognising them for the pop genuis they are. Sigh. Anyway, Alexander has moved onto a new group for the time being called Gravitonas. They are different to BWO but equally pleasing based on the first single. Do read on for more...

Gravitonas ~ Kites: When I first heard that Alexander was setting up a new rock band, I was a little bit hesitant to say the least. I certainly needn't have worried. Kites isn't a rock song in the traditional sense, although it does have stadium sized concert qualities to it - it would absolutely sound immense blasting out across a field at a summer festival. What you have here is a song that instantly grabs you with it's viva-la-vida-meets-untouchable vibe and an ably delivered engaging vocal by Andreas. It gently builds into a solid electronic trance anthem with a glorious chorus, that is both memorable and soaring. Amidst the electronica is some lovely piano work, a pleasing and pleasant guitar riff, and some wonderful sounding strings. It could all get a bit kitchen-sinky but it's strung together magnificently and works ever so well. There's even a choir added on at the end, which is a little bit Right Here Right Now meets Robbie's Bodies, but overall does work within the confines of the song. And the luscious key change of course is brilliant. So yes, I adore and hope to hear much much more from the latest Bard project in the coming months...

Best Bits:

• 31 seconds ~ the guitar riff kicks in, joining the pretty piano plinkings that dominate the first half minute...
• 1m16 seconds ~ the strings join the mix and it's all a little bit glorious really...
• 1m30 - 1m35 seconds ~ there is a brief pause, then everything that has been building up to this point all blends together for a rather euphoric second verse. Aces...
• Im50 seconds ~ It goes proper full on pop-rave, a bit like Girls Aloud's Untouchable...
• 3m25 seconds ~ the choir starts "ooo"ing in the background. It's a nice subtle addition at first, but builds up...
• 3m38 seconds ~ ... for a few seconds until they sing the final line "the kites won't make you fly". Indeed

Best Bard:

• Army of Lovers ~ Crucified: Imagine the bonkers drama of Erasure's uh Drama mixed with the high camp of Ms Minogue's Better The Devil You Know and mixed with Like A Prayer and you aren't even half way to experiencing the epic sound of AoL greatest tune. Still sounds utterly fresh and magnificent to this day...
• Vacuum ~ I Breathe: Their first single is also their most pleasing; a delicious piece of electro synth that was years ahead of it's time and could easily be covered today and sound completely relevant.
• BWO ~ Chariots of Fire: Everything that BWO epitomised is in this perfect slice of summery pop. Immense chorus, clever lyrics, great video - they were at the peak of their game when they released this gem...

Tomorrow(ish): Kimberley Locke!