The Kills
No Wow

Menacingly insistent, No Wow gets its point across like the best horror films; it’s all about what you don’t see. From the tense synthetic drums at the start to the escalated climax (_‘There ain’t no wow no more!’_) there has probably never been such focused use of stop start guitar and a measured dry vocal.

February’s sophomore long player was described across the board as spartan and spare, and it was with this titular album opener that Alison and Jamie (sorry, VV* and *Hotel) set out their stall. Ostensibly about being unimpressed, you can easily imagine it forming the soundtrack as something nasty stalks you down dark alleyways.

The bare elements songwriting is also a gift to remixers; in particular a Death From Above 1979 workover lends the tune an electronic sheen that will no doubt soon be a staple on Hoxton dancefloors. But try not to let that put you off – this is scary blues at its best.