The Shortwave Set - 'Repeat to Fade' (Independiente) Released 30/01/06

Let's pause to ponder what the phrase 'Repeat to Fade' could possibly mean. It'd signify overworking a long-suffering piece of equipment to the point where it voices its protest by disintegrating, and some of the curious ingredients - the rudimentary drum machine rhythm, the distant honking of horns or the array of beeps, hisses and burps from an armada of ancient analog synths - used here sound so well-worn you'd half-expect the antique kit they originate from to hover on the brink of turning to dust. Or maybe paying homage to hip sources that have already been consulted enough times for their initially alluring novelty to dim a bit is being referred to here. After all, The Shortwave Set aren't exactly pioneers in re-visiting vintage 1960's whimsy, the ethereal pop of St. Etienne and the soft-focus electro grooves of Air. But combine these influences and a wealth of laptop-tweaked hock-shop instrumentation with an elegantly sad melody that evokes the inexplicable melancholy moods that tend to strike at drizzle-ridden hangover mornings, and the results offer irrefutable proof of the title's real meaning. The third single from the South London trio’s debut the Debt Collector is simply the kind of tune you'll want to play over and over again, until the grooves wear off.