Album review: AlunaGeorge, Body Music (Island)

Aluna Francis and George Reid offer a blend of warmth and innocence which in places recalls trip-hop pioneers Sneaker Pimps as well as more modern comparisons with the voguish pop alienation of Lana Del Rey. Reid's sparse backing tracks, with their blend of brittle, skittish beats, deep synth bass pulses and woozy keyboard chordings, nod to the synthetic variety of contemporary British modes from bashment to dubstep, while Francis employs a distinctive childlike Estuary English delivery that's equal parts Lily Allen and (the younger) Bonnie Langford.

The combination works best on the single Attracting Flies; less engaging is the descent to playground chanting on Best Be Believing.

Download: Attracting Flies; Outlines; Your Drums