MusicFirst LookListen to The Drums' lovelorn new singleThe NYC duo premiere ‘I Can't Pretend’, a swooning centrepiece of their third album EncyclopaediaShareLink copied ✔️August 20, 2014MusicFirst LookTextJazz Monroe Anyone closely attuned to the inner reverberations of The Drums will have witnessed a shaky few years for the New York-based band. After major US TV appearances following 2011’s Portamento, rumours abounded of ongoing tensions, scrapped solo projects and the band’s imminent breakup. But fans can take solace in “I Can’t Pretend,” a mournful highlight from September-bound LP Encyclopaedia that starts like MGMT cruising through a wind tunnel before shooting into starlit histrionics reminiscent of Pixies classic “Where Is My Mind?” Lyrically, it’s predictably double-edged – this from a band whose romantic distance has always sounded less lackadaisical than coolly passive-aggressive – with Jonathan Pierce’s sun-lounger sighs bleeding raw indignation. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREBloodz Boi: The humble godfather of Chinese underground rapA rare interview with POiSON GiRL FRiEND, dream pop’s future seerNigeria’s Blaqbonez is rapping to ‘beat his high score’Inside Erika de Casier’s shimmering R&B universe ‘Rap saved my life’: A hazy conversation with MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt7 essential albums by the SoulquariansIs AI really the future of music?The KPop Demon Hunters directors on fan theories and a potential sequelplaybody: The club night bringing connection back to the dancefloorAn interview with IC3PEAK, the band Putin couldn’t silenceFrost Children answer the dA-Zed quizThe 5 best features from PinkPantheress’ new remix album