Today's Hotness: Night Fruit, Screaming Maldini

>> Cambridge, Mass.-based dream pop trio Night Fruit today unleashed a new single "Human Touch," and no, old people, it's not a Bruce Springsteen cover (although, if you'll permit the aside, the theme is similar, although The Boss could not foresee the dramatic change in the mediation of human interaction the Cantabrigians concern themselves with here). The tune curiously constructs widescreen romance from stabs of icy '80s synth, serial arabesques of bright melodic guitar and deliciously boxy drumming. Foregrounded, of course, is fronter Amanda Dellevigne's unmistakable and bell-clear alto. All told, the composition is more spare than the band's break-out, stand-alone single "Dark Horse," which was released in December, but no less affecting. "Human Touch" is the first single from a planned full-length debut slated for release in early 2013, and Night Fruit is supporting the former release with a week of live dates in California, which we believe represents the band's first foray to the west coast (Night Fruit toured the midwest in April and the northeast more recently). The new single was recorded and mixed by Night Fruit drummer Luke Sullivan and the lush, sensuous accompanying video embedded above was filmed and edited by Barry Marino (better known, for now anyway, as the drummer for Boston's mighty The Hush Now). We love how Mr. Marino makes his lighting dance, and rubs the effect up against shifting focus from the lens. Night Fruit play a tour homecoming show at O'Brien's Sept. 29, and we suspect that will be a very good show, indeed. In the meantime, download an MP3 of "Human Touch" at Soundcloud right here.

Night Fruit: Facebook | Tumblahhhh | Bandcamp | Vimeo

09.15 -- Los Angeles, CA -- Silverlake Lounge
09.16 -- Long Beach, CA -- Que Sera
09.17 -- Long Beach, CA -- Harvelle's
09.18 -- Los Angeles, CA -- The York
09.19 -- San Diego, CA -- Soda Bar
09.20 -- San Francisco, CA -- Thee Parkside
09/22 - Los Angeles, CA - Permnanent Records
09/29 - Boston, MA - O’Brien's Pub

>> Sheffield, England-based pop savants Screaming Maldini have announced the second single from its forthcoming full-length debut will be for the song "Summer Somewhere." Fans may recall the video we posted here early last month of a live performance of the band a capella-bombing a local thrift store with the characteristically asymmetrical pop confection. We are very eager to hear the song with fully realized production, and Alcopop Records and HipHipHip Records will oblige, issuing the single Oct. 15 in the U.K. and France respectively. Presumably the long-awaited, self-titled full-length album we've been waiting for and talking about since April will follow not long after. The single for "Summer Somewhere" will be rounded out by two remixes selected from among those the band is soliciting from fans. The creators of the chosen remixes will be offered slots DJing at a launch party for the single Screaming Maldini is planning for Oct. 13; the event will also feature a DJ set from Oxford legends Foals and a suppporting live set from locals Cats:For:Peru. There's much to anticipate coming out of the Maldini camp this fall, so you'd best just sit down and start anticipating.