Written by Emma Jones and Lauren Ziegler
Klyne – Closer
This song immediately reminded me of Jamiroquai, which is always a good thing. Maybe if Jamiroquai teamed up with Hot Chip, it would sound something like this. Dutch duo Klyne have reinvigorated their sound after a slew of singles earlier this year, and they’re all the better for it. Closer is minimal, hypnotic, staggering and a lot of fun. It’s got an undeniable groove and those vocals! Oh, those vocals!
Night Palms – George Clooney
This track is Night Palms’ second in his Silver Fox Series, in which he creates stunning instrumental tracks named after grey haired actors. First we had Richard Gere and now we have this, George Clooney. Sampling the poignant Clooney quote, “Make no mistake – your relationships are the heaviest components in your life,” Night Palms used percussion focused production to deliver a glitchy, crashing, hip hop styled beat track that will get you feeling the groove from the inside out. It’s a testimony to Night Palms’ skill as a beatmaker and has made us incredibly keen for the next instalment!
D.R.A.M – Caretaker Ft. SZA
Well D.R.A.M has certainly been in the news this week, following the drama surrounding Drake‘s borrowing/ remixing/sampling what has now become mammoth hit Hotline Bling. But now we get to discuss him for another reason – his incredible new SZA-featuring track, Caretaker. Silky and seductive, I love literally everything about this single. Almost painstakingly slow, I feel wholly mesmerised by every single phrase, note and harmony. What an absolutely beautiful song. My pick for the week.
Piers James – 80’s Baby
Teaming up with Jake Milliner for production duties, this track is just awesome. Throwing back with it’s boom bap kicks and splashy cymbals, warm synth swells move it towards a futuristic sound as James goes to town with his rhymes. Spitfire verses and soulful chorus, this is classic hip hop at it’s finest.
Benji Lewis – Why
From just a few seconds, Benji Lewis grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let it go. Sounding like an electro-pop version of Active Child, Why is a hard hitting slice of synth pop with added glam and a lot of modern flair. Passionate, infectious and pumping, Benji Lewis just earned himself a permanent spot on my radar and I can’t wait to see what he does next!
Set Mo – Chasing Forever Ft. ALPHAMAMA
Set Mo delivered an absolute ripper set at this year’s BIGSOUND, so I’ve had my eyes peeled for new material from the duo, and now they have delivered the goods. This deep house track is practically made for dancefloors, encompassing tropical and pop elements for an added bonus. Teaming up with ALPHAMAMA for some sublime vocals, the whole track glides along effortlessly, understated in it’s delivery but nevertheless impressive. Big things are still to come from these two!
Wafia – Heartburn
Brisbane based up-and-comer Wafia first came up on my radar with her cover of Mario‘s Let Me Love You, which is sitting on a cool 2 million plays right now since it was released. Since then, she has worked with Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Japanese Wallpaper, Charles Murdoch and most recently Ta-Ku, but now she’s steppin’ out on her own. Heartburn is a stunning song tinged with melancholy, showcasing Wafia’s impeccable voice and guest producer Ta-Ku’s flawless production techniques. It’s the perfect first taste from her forthcoming EP out next month, a release we cannot wait to hear.
Elizabeth Rose – Shoulda Coulda Woulda
Elizabeth Rose has returned with Shoulda Coulda Woulda, co-written and co-produced with Grammy winning beatmaker M-Phazes. Musically, the track’s spotlight shines firmly on the rhythm. That big, punchy, funk-inspired beat ties the whole track together. Each phrase is led by the demanding rhythm, and as a result, the entire atmosphere moves and stretches along with it. A really interesting release, to feature on her forthcoming debut album, duo out in March 2016.
Mio, Neverland ft. Le Pie
Adelaide’s Mio returns with their second fresh track of the year, the spritely and expansive Neverland. A glistening electro-pop offering, there’s something uniquely refreshing about Le Pie’s guest vocals, particularly when contrasted against that deep, rumbling bass, and the smooth syncopated rhythms. I absolutely love the indie-inspired chorus, full of joy and hope.
Lilt, Capture
Upcoming duo Lilt have just dropped new single Capture, a dark and rich release with an emotional atmosphere that you can really get lost in. There’s a lot of female-fronted electro-pop out there, but singer Louise Penman’s powerhouse vocal delivery really makes these guys stand out. Sparse synths and a hollowed rhythm form the base of the track’s burgeoning soundscape. The echoed vocal harmonies are easily my favourite aspect of the track. I’m looking forward to hearing more from these guys!
Perth act Lilt are making all kinds of waves, paving their own way through the densely over-populated forest that is Australian electronic music. Fronted by the gorgeous vocals of Louise Penman, Lilt are doing something unique, sultry, and very, very cool. Check this out:
Having already supported Flume, Snakadaktal and more, we’ve got high hopes for the future of Lilt. We wanted to get to know a bit more about the influences behind their unique sound, so we asked Matt & Louise to share some of their favourite tunes with us. Enjoy!
My favourite track to wake up to is… Matt: The Smiths – Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now
Such a feel good track, and works if you wake up in a great mood or are hating on life.
The best track for cooking is… Louise: Ratatat – Cream on Chrome
The best track for spring cleaning is… Louise: RJD2 Ghostwriter
The ultimate road trip track is….. Matt: Queens of the Stone Age – Go With The Flow. Just put the whole record on and drive. It’s crazy good.
My favourite love song is… Louise: Rhye – The Fall. Lying on the living room floor with my friends listening to this track at 4am is one of happiest memories.
The best track for sweet love makin’ is… Louise: FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
The track that always gets the party started is… SBTRKT – Wildfire. The bassline, groove, synths, vocals. Such a tune.
The best track to wind down a crowd is… Louise: Daryl Braithwaite – The Horses
My favourite drunken karaoke track is… Louise: Adele – Rolling In The Deep. So much screeching
My favourite song to sing in the shower is… Matt: Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountain. I bloody love this record, and this is my favourite cut off it, particularly to sing out of tune harmonies along to.
A song that always makes me cry is… Matt: Radiohead – House of Cards. One of those songs that always makes me think of a hard but beautiful time and place.
I love going to sleep listening to… Matt: Dj Olive – Sleep. A DJ set of ambient/beatless music, one of my most listened tracks in the last four years. – I listen to this when I want to sleep or clear my thoughts.
I can’t stop dancing when I hear… Louise: AHA – Take On Me
Lilt – Take
Lilt have dropped a music video for their gorgeous new track Take. The clip is a live performance at emerging Perth venue Jimmy’s Den, and it is absolutely mesmerising. Lead singer Louise Penman has one of those voices that makes all the hair on your back stand on end. Backed up by soft, penetrative electronica, she is breathtaking.
The film is simple; black and white close-ups of the band. It allows the viewer to really submerge themselves in the sound, so that when the song builds in layers and dimension, we are taken with that build in such an incredible way.
Tuka – Tattoo
You might know him better as part of hip hop group Thundamentals, but Tuka has started to do his own thing. His solo work looked to have a Raury-type vibe, infusing an indie sentimentality with smooth hip hop vibes. It sounds good, but it felt like he had the potential to create music that sounded a lot more unique.
Following on from his first single Nirvana, he has now released a new video for Tattoo. Lifted from his upcoming album Life Death Time Eternal, it’s a huge leap ahead of Nirvana. Tuka seems to have struck that balance that he couldn’t find before, between creating a song that features his signature rapping style, but is still soft and melodic. The chorus is surprisingly catchy and the backup track is on point. Tattoo is accompanied by a lovely music video, expressing that feeling of seeing your ex everywhere, when it is really just someone else.
URTEKK – Pareidolia
For a relatively new band, URTEKK have been killing it this year. The experimental dance/electronica four-piece have performed at Rainbow Serpent, WOMAdelaide and Wide Open Spaces, and they’ve now released a music video for their awesome new track Pareidolia.
The clip is terrifying, featuring a man with a black demon eye hanging out in a field and interacting with strange mirrors and objects. Completely creepy and awesome. URTEKK’s intense, throbbing sound suits the feel of the piece perfectly, resulting in a very disturbing, intruiging experience for the viewer.
Antony & Cleopatra – Take Me
Sydney and London duo Antony & Cleopatra have dropped the visual component to their latest track Take Me and it is absolutely stunning. Featuring black and white footage of famous couples, the film is nostalgic, and surprisingly graceful.
Famous pairings such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Bob and Ethel Kennedy join the likes of Ellen and Porcha, JT and Brittany Spears. The use of archival footage of the celebrities and politicians doing every day things somehow strips them of their prestige, giving the film an incredible intimacy. Antony & Cleopatra are an unlikely couple themselves, not just geographically but also musically. Their first endeavour into soulful electronica was the product of a pop writing session gone astray. Regardless of their uncommon backgrounds, their sound is absolutely perfect.
Tear Council – My Car
We’re going ham on the archival footage this week. Sydney duo Tear Council have released a gorgeous new film for their track My Car, which features footage from seminal car films such as Vanishing Point, Repo Man, The Driver and American Graffiti.
The song itself is a soaring, nostalgia-tinged out-pouring of emotion. Lead singer Matt Van Schie (Van She) lends his recognisable voice to a dreamy electronic soundscape, courtesy of Touch Sensitive’s Michael di Francesco. It is another wonderful, albeit unlikely pairing. If you like beautiful old cars and having a good old cry, then this song is for you. It has both.
Vic Mensa – U Mad ft. Kanye West
Call it a guilty pleasure, but I’m pretty sick for trap, and I really like this track. The clip is a spectacle – a clear scene of Vic in some kind of bondage-inspired straightjacket type thing, a dimly lit, nearly religious shot of Mensa bathed in red light, and scenes of a similarly-red party. And then there’s Kanye, featured in nearly identical shots but obviously stealing the show. It’s one of his funnier guest verses, that’s for sure.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really understand exactly what is going on in this video – but I’m okay with that.
Alison Wonderland – Run
Alison Wonderland’s latest video clips have been high tech, dramatic, and lots of fun – more fun than her live shows, anyway. The latest, for eerie and ethereal slow burner Run, is no different. Visceral and actually captivating, the clip shows a bunch of bruised and bloody violently robbing a candy store and then eating ice cream. It also shows huge amounts of liquid, coloured like the ice cream, getting poured over these guys. It’s really weird but very cool. Alison herself makes a couple of appearances too, although they’re kind of distracting and if we’re being honest, unnecessary.
Palace of the King – Another Thing Coming
Everyone loves a bit of good ol’ rock ‘n roll – especially when it looks and feels like a classic retro MTV clip.
With Deep Purple-channelling riffs and Axl Rose-esque vocals, this is big, loud, and in-your-face fun. Sure, there’s not one iota of originality about this sound, but that’s alright – if we’re being honest, it’s unlikely this band are trying to change the world. They’re having fun playing fun music, and I’m having fun listening to it. Hair metal is particularly awesome on the live stage, so be sure to catch Palace of the King live on their upcoming national tour – details here.