It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet, of this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Tiny Little Houses: Soon We Won’t Exist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKfs9Y4fYPI
For some pretty sombre subject matter, the newest single from Melbourne quartet Tiny Little Houses has been partnered with a quirky cool video. Frontman Caleb Karvountzis opens the song with the line ‘How weird is it to think in 60 years we won’t exist’, a rumination on death that is as glaringly obvious as it is starkly terrifying. The lo-fi sound belies the morbid subject of the song, and the accompanying music video is niftily shot. It features the band trapped (although singer Caleb does find his way onto the street for the briefest of moments) jamming in a windowless, white room, all the while being broadcasted on static-saturated television sets.
It’s a great clip to a stomping number that pays homage to none-more-indie bands of yesteryear like Modest Mouse and Neutral Milk Hotel. The track is the latest off of their 2015 EP You Tore Out My Heart, a record we have thoroughly enjoyed this year.
Lea Porcelain – Loose Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkmjd8KFWRg
Keeping your gaze firmly planted on your shoes for this next one is Lea Porcelain, a duo out of Frankfurt, and the video for their latest single Loose Life. The track itself is brooding and intense, harsh synths dancing with an erratic beat and heavily filtered vocals, the whole thing is about the definition of off-beat but it builds up so beautifully.
The video absolutely grabbed the modern history nerd in me and shook him to life again, the track overlaid on footage of post-WWII Berlin. The footage was only uncovered recently by German director Konstantin von our Muhlen, who allowed the duo to use it in the making of this video. It’s visually confronting, the sheer wreckage and ruin juxtaposed with shots of smiling people trying to rebuild their shattered lives and surroundings. The song and clip walk hand in hand, utterly compelling.
Jones – Hoops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUuexNwsVGc
Heading across the pond to London for this next one with songstress Jones and her latest single Hoops. Having released her debut EP earlier in the year, this is a track from her forthcoming debut LP New Skin that’s set to drop later next year. There’s a lot of hype surrounding Jones and for good reason: she has a voice on her that will chill you to the bone. Mixing a funky electronic beat with her own soulful voice, the chorus of Hoops will hook you with a tonne of force.
The video keeps the focus squarely on Jones, it’s her voice in the driver’s seat after all. Professionally shot, making full use of mood lighting and confronting closeups, it’s a solid visual accompaniment to a track by a fantastic up and coming singer-songwriter out of the UK, an area producing them left right and centre.
SOAK – Reckless Behaviour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUL4VslJykA&feature=youtu.be
Taking a hop, skip and a jump from London to neighbouring Ireland, this next video comes from the youngest female nominee to be shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize in seven years, Bridie Monds-Watson, known also as SOAK. The nomination in question was for her stunning debut album Before We Forgot How To Dream and the latest single to be given a music video from that album is Reckless Behaviour.
It’s a nifty little alt-pop number that is catchy as all hell. The video explores a wonderful friendship shared between two unlikely individuals, the craftiest old durry-choofing granny out there and a lonely young girl, both residents of a mental health facility. It’s a great story she and director Bob Gallagher manage to unfold in just north of three minutes, and it will warm your heart.
You can catch SOAK live when she tours Australia in the New Year, including appearances at the Falls and Southbound festivals.
Espa – Swan Song (ft. Giggs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwhzNGGu0h8
We flat out loved this track the first time we laid ears on it. Espa’s is the kind of voice that just stops traffic and Swan Song is such a consummately professional and mesmerisingly great track in every aspect. The subtle G-funk beat (courtesy of the production desk of Erick Arc Elliot of Flatbush Zombies), the super smooth baritone flow of hip hop legend Giggs. Did we mention that voice? Because it’s one of the better RnB voices we’ve heard in quite some time. Close your eyes and you’ll swear it’s Mary J. giving her best crack at the coolest James Bond theme you’re likely to hear.
The video of course lives up to all the expectations set by the original track, a lazy cool wander around a dimly lit house that just happens to have two fine musicians breaking up the gloom with their respective talents.
BUT DID WE MENTION THAT VOICE THOUGH??? Because damn. Espa just killing it every time.
BRNS – The Way Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL7khw_3TGw
Sprawling, ambient, intense; the new single from Belgian multi-instrumentalist BRNS, titled The Way Up, is sublime. The track, clocking in at over six minutes, takes the static notion of genre and throws it right in the river. It’s an eclectic mash up of haunting falsetto vocals, jarring percussion, slow-burning guitars and weird little electronic noises, all blended together to forge a super cool soundscape and launching into the atmosphere with the crescendo.
The accompanying video is shot in beautiful black and white and explores a stark and lonely urban existence, rising and dipping with the ever-changing tempo of the song before going a mile a minute with fights and barking dogs to match an equally frenetic climax.
Stunning to put it simply.
Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Love Is Free (ft. Maluca)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGFdCWC5ls
Coming in with hands down the most fun film clip on the list this week are Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique, a trio out of Sweden with their debut single Love Is Free. The track is a throwback to 90s aerobics class anthems and is outrageously funky and up-tempo.
The video for the single is full of toothy grins, ceiling level energy, a man covered entirely in crimson lipstick, some fantastic dance moves between Robyn and featured artist Maluca and jumping on the bed. So much jumping on the bed. The whole thing, song and video, is just a barrel of fun that should have everyone cracking out the spandex and working up a sweat.
Hudson Mohawke – Indian Steps (ft. Antony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iavImpqC81s&feature=youtu.be
Just shy of a trip down under for a headlining tour and a highly anticipated spot on the Laneway Festival bill, the trap lord with the Midas touch and an all-round great Scotsman, producer Hudson Mohawke, has dropped the video for his latest single Indian Steps.
Brooding and delicate juxtaposed with an intermittent gunshot backbeat, the track is absolutely haunting. The feature crooning from English singer-songwriter Antony anchors a song made for burning midnight oil to ever so fantastically. The music video is inspired by The Kiss, a sculpture by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the scene evoking the timelessness of true love.
See you real soon, HudMo.
British soul siren Espa is a star on the rise, in possession of a voice that smoulders and smokes so wonderfully that the uninitiated listener would be forgiven for mistaking her for Mary J. Blige, to put forth a bold comparison. She’s been touted by many as the next big thing, collaborating with some pretty big names in the industry, including Craig David, Flatbush Zombies and even Goldie (now there’s a blast from the past).
She landed with her debut EP LG60 earlier this year to stacks of critical acclaim. Espa isn’t slacking between releases though, this week dropping a brand new track, Swan Song.
https://soundcloud.com/espamusic/swansong
She’s once again linked up with producer Erick Arc Elliot (of the aforementioned Flatbush Zombies duties), who she collaborated with previously to subsequent great success on LG60 cuts Pray For Me and Rodney, so the two work undeniably cohesively together. She’s also drafted the veteran rhyming talents of Giggs, a name whispered with reverence in the UK hip hop scene.
Swan Song is an absolutely gorgeous firestorm of a track. Espa’s voice is of the duskiest caliber of RnB, straight from the top shelf of the vintage era of the 90s. She croons over the top of what is almost a low-key G-funk beat from Erick Arc Elliot, a bit of jazz flute and a bassline that struts in time to Espa’s absolutely stunning vocals. I can’t stress that enough, the range on those pipes is breathtaking.
Giggs makes his presence felt first around the halfway mark, his molten baritone flow stoking the song’s embers until Espa floats back in to finish it off in style. She’s an educated musician, having studied at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, and every shred of her talents, both learned and instinctive, are laid bare on Swan Song.
A true talent with big things in her immediate future, her traffic-stopping voice coupled with astute production decisions and a whole lot of well-deserved support from some veterans of the industry will all but assure that. Somebody get this girl the next Bond theme.
London artist Espa has put out her first single from her upcoming EP LG60. Following from 2014’s acclaimed offering 150th & Broadway, Pray For Me is a track that infuses soulful, jazz-tinged R&B vocals into the shuffling, skipping beats of UK garage influences. Speaking to The FADER, Espa spoke about the track as an expression of desperation felt in a moment when “when you long to see the light, you long for an intangible force to save you from a situation that’s going nowhere.”
The first line of the song, “So I’m here once again on the edge,” captures just about everything that’s great about the track. The lyrics aside, Espa’s deep, captivating tones take hold quickly, before gaining momentum into a holler of a refrain. Adding to her comments, the multi-instrumentalist spoke about harnessing that vulnerable moment in order to “capture our true strength.” It seems she’s done exactly that with Pray For Me and has given us one hell of a track.
Tidal have mastered the playlist, and Spotify are honing in on the playlist action too. But there’s only one playlist you need to kick off your weekend: That’s right, here it is, the Howl & Echoes weekly playlist of the best new songs this week.
- Tom Lee-Richards, The Wearing Kind
Kicking off this week’s playlist with something extra lovely. Opening on a gorgeous guitar riff and stunning vocals, this is a really beautiful track from the upcoming artist. The track flourishes as it chugs along, with a subdued tropical beat and a great rhythm. Warm and inviting from start to end, you can really just melt into the track’s atmosphere. - The Parrots, To The People Who Showed Me Their Love While I Was Here
Man, this track is cool. A stoned, sluggish bass sets the pace, before hazy guitars and occasional vocals really give off a dreamy vibe, evoking the absolute best kind of nostalgia. The Madrid trio will be releasing their new EP on June 22, and this is second track, following on from the wicked I’m Not Alone. - The Bacchanales, Sandcastles
Brisbane’s The Bacchanales are back with a brand new track, and it’s as catchy as it is cool. The progressive track opens with a kind of understated darkness, before opening up with a glistening, gorgeous chorus which infuses soft yet soaring vocals with the guitar layers. This cut is actually part of a full nine-minute version which you’ll be able to hear on their forthcoming EP. - B Wise, Prince Akeem (prod. Raph Lauren)
Upcoming African-Australian hip hop artist B Wise has just dropped Prince Akeem, produced by Raph Lauren of Jackie Onassis. He’s got a liquid flow, and plays around really well with dynamics and dramatic delivery, this is a really fun track. The track is named after Eddie Murphy’s character in the comedy classic, ‘Coming to America,’ which is a big tick in my book! - ALTA, Moves
Experimental electronic duo ALTA have just dropped Moves, and it’s such a trip. The sound effects used throughout are wacky and wonderful – the natural sounds, elephant roars, jumpy vocal echoes and more create a kind of escapist jungly vibe, topped off by the sexy, slivery vocals. It’s the first track off their forthcoming EP, set for release in the next few weeks. - AZEKEL, Mad About The Boy
There’s something really interesting, and strange yet inviting about the extreme choppiness of the beats and rhythms scattered throughout this track. Every staccatoed beat and bass feels hasty and short of breath, completely contrasted against the velvety smooth R&B melody. Keep an eye out for the London artist’s EP, Raw, Vol 1, set to drop on July 12. - Lanks, Settle Down
Lanks has always had a knack for delivering beautiful, sultry electronic tunes, and Settle Down follows in that vein. Angelic falsetto leads the way, giving way to a breathtaking trip-hop melody, evoking a stunning Massive Attack vibe. Incredibly sensual and so intimate, the Melbourne artist has really outdone himself this time. The track will be featured on his new EP Banquet, out July 3. - Espa, Orbit
I fell completely in love with Espa’s last couple single, and Orbit is no different. The sensual atmosphere slides under the radar, with a thumping beat and smooth, seductive vocals. The vocals playfully dance with harmonies throughout, and little flickers of whirling synth sound effects embellish the track so perfectly; all in all, this is utterly cool. - Damien Ike, Even in War
Damien Ike is a new London artist, and if Even In War is anything to go by, we’re going to be hearing a lot more from this wonderful producer. Drawn out beats, muffled synths and a shuffling beat create a lush soundscape, but it’s the vocals that really steal the spotlight. Rich and deep, there’s so much power in the melody. The kind of track you’re gonna listen to a few times in a row.
Here’s the whole playlist right here for you! Head over to our Soundcloud for all the playlists you could ever want.
What’s that? You want a slow jam for the weekend?
Espa’s new track “Your Ghost” is gorgeous. There’s something really special about this — it evokes some serious ’90s R&B nostalgia, but with a contemporary twist.
There’s a breathless melody bathed in pop sentimentality, on top of a deep electronic/R&B groove. This is equal parts comforting guilty pleasure (think “Waterfalls” and “One in a Million”) and absolutely on-trend (think Banks, SZA).
The track starts slowly, with a sparse beat and dark vocals. Tiny loops and beats begin to grow, as the melody builds, and we get a real feel for it. Espa’s rich, airy voice twirls around the low beats and sensual bass line throughout, while the soundscape is filled with catchy rhythms and synth nuances. The verses are sparse, giving you space to focus on the melody. The emotional choruses are where things really flourish, blooming into something that really pulls at those heart strings.
I want more.