[LISTEN] Xylaroo - I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor (Arctic Monkeys Cover)

Making a cover of one of the most ubiquitous songs of the last decade one of your first releases is pretty brave. Making a cover of one of the most ubiquitous songs of the last decade one of your first releases as a crackling lo-fi bedroom demo is even braver. But not only do Xylaroo pull it off, they have the potential to be one of the most interesting artists to emerge in 2016.

Points of interest:

-They are sisters (Coco and Holly Chant) with a fairly unique cultural background of their current East London digs and their Papua New Guinean roots, not to mention time spent living throughout Europe and Asia

-They are off on tour with Matt Berry in December. No, this is not some acoustic troubadour you haven’t heard of yet, this is the Matt Berry of Toast of London and The IT Crowd fame

- They’ve just signed to Sunday Best Recordings and will be releasing their debut album Sweetooth next year

Their inventive take on I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor is a good portent of things to come, both in terms of the tour and the album. Inventive not in the sense of slowed down acoustic version, we’ve all seen many a guy or gal attempt this at open mic nights, often to passable affect. The inventiveness is in the subtle changes they make, and the sweet harmonies included throughout, reminiscent of the excellent Girlpool and also leading to comparisons with the marvellous First Aid Kit.



There is a feeling of sheer confidence that comes across in the recording, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that it’s such a bare and personal exposing of themselves. There’s a genuine sense that you’re hearing the true Xylaroo, before they get hidden behind any production magic. This is a real heard-it-first moment before they force themselves into wider consciousness to my mind, and I can’t wait to hear how this translates into a full LP.

The best versions of an artist are often the recordings that best get across the live feel, and you can’t get any closer than this to that feeling. Talking of live, catch Xylaroo supporting Matt Berry on tour near you:
Full tour dates
Wed 2 December Club Academy, Manchester
Thurs 3 December Oran Mor, Glasgow
Fri 4 December Riverside, Newcastle
Sat 5 December Fibbers, York
Sun 6 December The Library @ The institute, Birmingham
Mon 7 December The Fleece, Bristol
Tues 8 December The Old Market, Brighton

Thurs 10 Dec The Forum, London
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