At a time where many artists are choosing to unload extensive hour-or-more-long albums with 18+ tracks, Hanni El Khatib has gone against the grain, peppering 2016 with three – and now four – mini records, making up the Savage Times series.
Savage Times Vol. 4 is out today, and Howl & Echoes is thrilled to premiere the centrepiece of the three-track release, Black Constellation.
Sultry, jazzy piano opens the track, before a stompy electric guitar takes the lead. The piano continues flirting with the guitar as the riff unfolds, sneaking chords into its nooks while the track settles into its groove. Vocals come in soon after, and from here on out we’re treated to a bluesy number which draws on familiar blues rhythms and melodies, filtered through a kind of rawness that makes his music so engaging.
In his own words, Hanni explains how Black Constellation came to be: “I was having one of those days where I was just stuck and didn’t know what to write or record. I started to telling Jonny (owner of Jazzcats Studio) about a song I’ve been playing on the piano that I wrote when I was 12.
“He was quick to have me play it for him and start tracking it. I had to somewhat change it and give a little variation and arrange it, but all and all it’s pretty similar to what I used to play when was kid. Throughout the Savage Times Recordings I have been obsessively watching live videos of Sun Ra while on down time at Jazzcats. The lyrics all came out of that inspiration, so I guess Black Constellation is a somewhat of an homage to the man, the myth, the legend himself – Sun Ra.”
I love the Savage Times series for the sheer musical diversity; from gristly punk to raunchy blues, to stripped-back folk and beyond, it’s like we’ve been served up a Hanni El Khatib tasting menu; a little bit of everything to enjoy.
Savage Times Vol. 4 is out today – grab it here.
Image: Sam Monkarsh
It’s cold this week and if you can’t tell, we’re not happy about it! To shake off those blues, we’re getting lost in some clips that emanate those good old summer vibes. Put your bikinis and budgee smugglers on in preparation and get clicking below!
Hockey Dad – Jump the Gun
Sit back and take a tour of the beach side suburb of Windang as the latest clip from Hockey Dad treats us to a behind the scenes look into the town that the foursome call home. A little patch of coastline on the Southern tip of the Wollongong peninsula, its suddenly very apparent where the lads lazy, sun drenched vibes originate. Inspired by surf classic Endless Summer II, drummer Billy Fleming says he started to pen lyrics when he heard the line: “on any day of the year, it’s summer somewhere in the world.” Radiating all that warmth, Jump The Gun is a scorcher, with plenty more to come from album Boronia, out August 12th.
https://youtu.be/mtNK4EI2XN8
Mac Miller– Dang! Feat Anderson Paak
The pairing of Mac Miller and Anderson Paak is about as smooth and splendid as you could imagine. The video for single Dang! off the upcoming album The Divine Feminine laments the struggles of holding on to that special girl, with Miller following his love interest across the city while .Paak forlornly watches as his counterpart packs her bags. But it’s not all doom and heartbreak, there is dancing that would make Pharrell Williams smile with the force of a thousand Happy videos and a hint at a happy ending after all. I think we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of this one.
https://youtu.be/LR3GQfryp9M
Spookyland – Discipline
I’m not even sure if this is cheating, but it was hard not to include the official lyric video released by Spookyland this week for track Discipline, because the track itself is just so captivating. If affected lyrics and anthemic builds are your thing, then your going to be all over this. Think Gang Of Youths and DMA’s and you’re on the right track. Once you’re done memorising the lyrics with the video on repeat, you can grab their debut Beauty Already Beautiful here or check them out at their upcoming shows.
https://youtu.be/OlMmeWNj0G8
NAO – Girlfriend
Soaring and ethereal, the voice of London’s NAO is like being wrapped in a cocoon made up of the night sky. Single Girlfriend has been doing the rounds and making waves and the video to accompany is appropriately divine. The spacious, soulful funk of the track overlays visuals of feminine diversity and those little moments of domestic bliss that can twang even the most cynical heartstrings. NAO is a stand out new kid on the block of 2016 and you’d be doing yourself a favour to hear more from her 18 track mega debut For All We Know here.
https://youtu.be/sisOw0Y822U
Hanni El Khatib – Mondo and His Makeup
Shot in a Mexican restaurant that looks like a strip club with a mariachi player and some sequined dancers, how could we not watch this one through? It’s the kind of place you just wish you could stumble in after a few sneaky tequila shots before slithering into a booth for some solid people watching. The rocking track comes from El Khatib’s THIRD collection of tracks this year, but don’t fear, he’s got both the quality and the quantity boxes ticked. I’ll be spinning this to start off my weekend, thank you very much.
https://youtu.be/TGUFw4yo_YI
Phia – Open/Closed
A song for everyone who needs to check that the stove is off and the door is locked three times each before leaving the house, Open/Closed an anthem for the perpetually uncertain. The sweetness and fragility of Phia’s vocal sentiment is touching and when coupled with an African beat it’s infectious as hell. The singer/songwriter wears her heart on her sleeve as she swirls across a central Australian landscape with clouds spinning overhead. Stay tuned for news of her debut album!
https://youtu.be/nJE5zJm6xHw
Photo credit: Daniel Radburn
Hanni El Khatib has recently released two short, three-track EPs, Savage Times volumes 1 and 2 – and he’s now about to release the third instalment, ahead of which comes new single Come Down. It might be my favourite new track yet.
The first two volumes showed off an interesting blend of styles, from raucous punk to intimate, emotive acoustic vocals-and-guitar only numbers. Come Down opens on a big, brassy bass that plods along like a tuba, before Khatib’s awesome melody kicks in up above. The track has a kind of playful feel to it once the rest of the music kicks in. It’s dark but warm, and there’s something quite raw and seductive about it all. Toward the end comes a wicked guitar solo, satisfyingly deep and a pleasure to hear. Like most of the tracks from the Savage Times series, the song’s foudnations and layers are fairly simple, but they make really nice little musical snippets.
It’s unsure as to how many volumes we’ll see, or if they will all be eventually released as one album. It’s an interesting way to release music in these short snippets, as opposed to a full album. It not only makes for a clever marketing technique to keep the music in the media cycle, but it’s a great way to allow fans to absorb a few songs at a time, rather than undertake an entire album, which in this day and age of single-focused releases, might be considered a little daunting for some.
Image: Stereogum
I love Hanni El Khatib. I have since Will The Guns Come Out in 2011, and I’ve only grown to love him more with each release. Just a few weeks ago came the release of three-track Savage Times Vol 1, and when new single Miracle dropped last week, I noted that I hoped it would be a part of an upcoming Vol 2. My prayers were answered and Savage Times Vol 2 is now here via Innovative Leisure/Inertia.
The second compilation this year contains three more neat little tracks, totalling just over nine minutes. Each offering something totally different to each other. Paralysed is a bouncy and fun musical number with spiteful lyrics and a kind of Devendra Banhart vibe to it; the stripped back Miracle, featuring no more than a guitar and Khatib’s voice, is raw, bluesy and real, while final track Mangos and Rice is frantic and punky, overloaded with reverb and unhinged percussion, with the simplest lyrics, but the wildest music of all three, and probably most similar to what we got on Volume 1. Watch the video below.
I love that such a tiny pocket of musical moments can show off three entirely different faces of the one artist; it’s what I love about Hanni El Khatib, and it’s what I’m coming to love more about short EPs and mini-releases like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjk0UVtt57c&feature=youtu.be
Listen to the three tracks below, and check out Volume 1 here. Fingers crossed for more from the San Francisco artist in the coming months.
Image: Supplied
It has been another incredible good week for new music. As always, we try to share as much as we can throughout the week, but here’s a playlist of everything we may have missed, but it’s too good to leave behind. Enjoy!
- Azad Right – Enough Of You (Prod. Sango, Atu & Dpat)
Azad may not be a familiar name, but as VPrecord label Mind of a Genius (ZHU, Gallant etc) you may well be aware of his influence. This is the first track which features his own vocals, and it’s immediately clear that his talents stretch far beyond label prowess. Understated and smooth, with a low, seductive tone and emotive instrumental layers, this is a sentimental, sensual track, reflecting on a recently ended relationship in an intimate way – the kind of conversation you have with yourself once you’re starting to see straight and think clearly. - Montaigne – Because I Love You
Okay, so this track came out at the end of last week, but I couldn’t let it slip by without writing about it. Time and time again Montaigne proves herself to be one of the best Sydney artists around. This one’s a lot more synth-pop-y than her previous tracks, showcasing a brighter, and I suppose, more straightforward sound to what we’ve heard before. Admittedly it isn’t my favourite of hers (I’m such a sucker for the big, sweeping dramatic numbers), but it’s all relative – this track still rocks in many ways. - NYNE – Bad Trip (Prod. CHIEF)
This is a really cool electro-pop track from Melbourne’s NYNE, noted for her OVO connection – the resident producer of which, Sevn Thomas, worked on her previous single Can’t Sleep Alone. The lyrics of Bad Trip essentially say it all – this is a pretty damn relatable song about making bad decisions late at night, at a time when you really shouldn’t be texting back. The rhythm and atmosphere can totally put you into that mindset; it’s great hearing more stuff like this coming out of Australia. - Hanni El Khatib – Miracle
I have all the time in the world for Hanni El Khatib, and I truly adore everything he releases. Earlier this year came three new tracks in the form of a three-track EP Savage Times Volume 1, and now a fourth, Miracle, is upon us. Drunkenly emotive and melodically gorgeous, not many people can make bluesy tunes this raw and this enjoyable in 2016. Although originally intended for a full band, he absolutely made the right decision keeping it stripped back with just voice and a guitar. I’m hoping there’s a Savage Times Volume 2 on its way! - Torii Wolf – 1st ft. Dilated Peoples (Remix) (Prod. DJ Premier)
Smooth, so so smooth. I’ve been listening to a LOT of Dilated Peoples lately, so this is a really exciting new addition to the DJ Premier-produced collaboration. The verses are engaging and excellent, all the while backed by gentle piano and a driving beat. Upcoming Mass Appeal artist Torii Wolf’s voice is really special, with a really unique, wavering, breathy tone that seriously works so well with the verses and Premier’s production. I’m really excited to hear more. - DΔWN, Serpentine Fire
Serpentine Fire is the third offering in Adult Swim’s weekly singles releases for 2016. Each has been remarkably different, and this week’s, from Dawn Richards, is a floaty electro-house track with heavenly vocals and a pumping beat coming together for a bouncy, dance-floor ready rhythm. Although only two minutes long, it’s hard not to start bopping along. I’ve avidly followed the Adult Swim Singles Series for a long time now – check back next week for week four! - River Tiber, Heart of Stone
This is an incredible new single from one of my favourite new discoveries. I love how Tiba has taken a well-done sound (ie, rich electro-R&B) and injected it with something totally fresh and totally seductive. The way that his vocal melody plays with dramatically lengthened phrases and stark instrumental layers kind of reminds me of James Blake here. After about two-and-a-half minutes the track drops, adding a really nice synth rhythm, intricate percussion and a deeply satisfying bass line. This is certainly my favourite track on this week’s playlist, and I’m really, really looking forward to his upcoming album Indigo, due out on June 24. (not on the playlist below – listen here) - Tourist Dollars, Ageless
Anyone who knows me knows that tracks like is aren’t my usual fare, but last night while I was lying in bed, trawling through my alarmingly full inbox, I found this song and it made me smile. Ageless offers a floaty warmth with backing harmonies that kind of sounds like a woozy, slow-mo barbershop quartet. It’s tropical sure – just look at the Hawaiian shirt artwork and the ocean sounds in the outro, but it lacks the corniness that typically makes me cringe. The Melbourne trio’s debut EP is out this week – take a load off, and enjoy. - BLYDVS, Pressure (ft. Jace XL)
I came across this gem on Soundcloud yesterday and have listened to it about 12 times since. This is the only song on BLYDVS (Billy Davis)’ page, and it’s gorgeous. Featuring guest vocals from Hiatus Kaiyote backing singer Jace XL, this soulful song is just gorgeous. Musically, it is sensual and intricate, evoking an intimate late-night atmosphere, complete with a soft trumpet and a melody and verse made of pure velvet. My one and only criticism is that there aren’t more songs to follow this up. - Braille Face, Backwards/Medicated
The second track from Melbourne’s Braille Face is luscious and confronting. From the song’s grounding of rumbling percussion, keys and incoming strings, comes a bulging, shuffling rhythm and a tender melody singing a stark story. “I’ve been here before, backwards and medicated,” it begins. Listen carefully and you’ll find something very real throughout this song, something intimate, and confessional. With this melody ringing out atop an instrumental that retains delicacy as it grows more frantic, it hits remarkably hard. Braille Face’s debut album is out later this year and if this is anything to go by, then I’m really looking forward to it.
Image: Hanni El Khatib – Supplied
LANKS – Settle Down
I’ve seen a lot of music videos that are ‘funny’, in the sense that you understand the humour but really you’re just sitting there watching in silence. This one isn’t that. Melbourne pop artists LANKS has released the visual accompaniment to his latest single Settle Down two days ago, and it is fucking funny.
The clip, which was filmed in two takes in the artist’s own dining room, features LANKS being fed breakfast by a pair of unrelated hands. The fact that he’s trying so hard to keep a stony expression gives it this wonderful sense of indifference and seriousness. On top of that the song is beautiful, featuring stunning vocal harmonies and simple, catchy instrumental layers.
Angus and Julia Stone – From the Stalls
Angus and Julia Stone have released some excellent video clips in their time, but this film for their latest single From the Stalls has something really special about it.
The pair spent five days and nights being filmed in South Australia, catching the stunning natural landscape at sunrise and sunset. The film has a beautiful duality to it, alternating back and forth between light and dark, land and sea. The artists talked about wanting to capture the untamed wild both in the forest and the ocean at different times of day.
The pair have a lot coming up in the next few months, their worldwide tour is in action and they are set to play at Lollapalooza as well as the Governor’s Ball this summer.
Hanni El Khatib – Melt Me
Melt Me is the third offering from Hanni El Khatib’s latest album Moonlight, and he has released a lovely music video to go with it. The clip is filmed entirely on the artist’s iPhone, but he was heavily influenced by French film director Simon Cahn, making sure that the final product was far from amateur.
Melt Me simply depicts the artist in a gaming room, surrounded by kids and adults playing various electronic games. The film is quite artfully composed, and it’s refreshing to have an unprofessional music video that isn’t recorded with some kind of retro camera or nostalgic aesthetic. The film isn’t trying to be quaint or sentimental, it is just depicting our generation using a device that we rely more than any other.
Hedge Fund – Look Who’s Back
Yesterday indie-rock band Hedge Fund premiered an awesome music video for their single Look Who’s Back. The clip features a man running on a treadmill, naked but for a pair of skin-coloured tighty-whities. It’s a mixture of funny and also very very disturbing.
The figure has white stripes down his back and a white-painted face, giving off a kind of creepy Joker vibe. We can see the strain on his face as he runs for dear life, fat jiggling around like nobody’s business. Look Who’s Back has a dark, tense energy, and the film captures that perfectly.
Montaigne – A Cinematic Plea for an End
Montaigne’s latest video clip forA Cinematic Plea for an End was recorded live at her sold-out headline tour at Brighton up Bar. The film, which was produced by Masses Collective (Hungry Kids of Hungary, Ballpark Music) captures a moment of raw, intense emotion.
Montaigne begins the song with an incredibly beautiful vocal, accompanied by a simple, paired-back soundtrack. The song builds in pace and complexity, becoming faster and more dynamic as it goes on. It really takes off at around 3 minutes in. Montaigne is on fire at the moment, having recently played at Groovin the Moo in Canberra as well as having supported Megan Washington and San Cisco. She’s definitely an artist to watch out for.
Garage blues musician Hanni El Khatib has teamed up with an unlikely collaborator, legendary rapper Freddie Gibbs on new track Satin Black. Perfectly crafted for cruising with the windows down and the volume high, the pair’s chemistry is uncanny. Effortlessly, Gibbs’ aggressive flow carries over Khatib’s raw rock instrumentals, coming together to create a unique and wickedly enjoyable track. The slow building chorus shows off Khatib’s signature vocals, but overall, his melody takes the backseat, allowing Gibbs to shine through.
Although Khatib has traditionally danced with rock and blues, he’s clearly becoming more and more interested in hip hop of late. His latest single Moonlight has been described as a mix of “RZA and Iggy Pop,” and he’s also recently remixed a track from Wu-Tang’s GZA.
Satin Black is the first single from the third Converse CONS compilation, officially titled CONS EP Vol. 3, bringing together eight artists over four tracks.
Be on the lookout for Khatib’s forthcoming album Moonlight, dropping later this month, while you can catch Freddie Gibbs on a national tour in February.
Words by Lauren + Vince Lee