Recently experiencing Swordwind’s pint-size powerhouse metal full of excessively fantastic and virtuosic symphonic references for the first time, I decide that I am sick of this tinktink –beepbeep minimalist indie-electro meltdown. I think it’s about time everyone destroyed their new rave records and do the complete opposite: start some new prog-rock bands. I get all wound up only to be wound down by the twinkling D.I.Y. appeal of The Blow’s technologically updated re-issuing (the 12” version has been available for ages) of their Poor Aim: Love Songs. Maybe I’m not so ready for this dance-pop trend of quirky quality to end just yet.

Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt create innocently infectious tunes of crafty beats and charming simplicity. Maricich’s sing-speak vocals, rich with a type of stream-of-consciousness meets childlike-awkwardness, reap redeeming charisma. First track ‘Hey Boy’ features an almost isolated but flirtatious melody whose fierce repetition teases like batting eyelashes; as she seemingly pines with heartache, Maricich’s ironic and sleepy singing style make all of the despair oddly, but amusingly, comical. The tune develops into a blossoming carefree philosophy about relationships with a mirroring unfussy strand of candy-coated beats. While ‘The Sky Opened Wide Like the Tide’ wallops with urgency and hyper movement, the majority of the album lodges in much of the glittery naivety expressed in the first track.

The Blow display cheeky range as 45-second disclosure of playground politics, ‘Let’s Play Boys Chase Girls’, contrasts with much more anxiously breathy and sensual ‘Hock It’. ‘Come On Petunia’ stumbles about with bits of old magical Police lyrics and in combination with some new original rhymes, the tune bounces about like a post-modern patchwork of modest pop-culture homage. Closing remixes are pleasingly packaged to suit the dance floor, contrasting with their rather disjointed originals; highlights include the screaming-cats-type strings on Lucky Dragons’ Newage Powermix of ‘The Sky Opened…’.

This upgraded re-release of _ Poor Aim: Love Songs_ is worth experiencing, then, even if it’s just for those screaming cats.