Here we are at yet another tail-end of what’s been a horribly cold week in most of Australia. But while the weather might be freezing our toes, the tunes are still flowing freely and warming us right up like a hot cuppa. We do our best to cover as much great new music as we can each week, and here’s a playlist of some of our favourite new tracks that we haven’t shared yet.
Enjoy!
- Rumours, So Bad
We’re starting this week’s playlist with So Bad, a gorgeous, soulful track from the trio of Norwegian and Italian artists, and features on their new EP Shapes. The track particularly highlights the marriage of male and female vocals; Mark’s low voice is rich and full of deep-seated sensuality, while Marion’s is glistening and smooth, traipsing from note to note with honeyed fluidity. - Hockey Dad, Jump the Gun
Hockey Dad return with the perfect track to get the weekend started. as explained by drummer Billy Fleming, “this was written in my room while staring at my Endless Summer II poster, one of our favourite surf movies all the time. The lyrics spiraled off the line “on any day of the year, it’s summer somewhere in the world”. - Vacances, Only You
Vacances (pronounced ‘vacancies’) new track is bright and immediately catchy, with big, bold vocals and warm guitars that ring out and fill up the soundscape, occasionally inflected by synths and bustling percussion. This is their first single, and will be followed up by an EP later this year. - Alice Ivy, Almost Here ft. RaRa
Melbourne’s Alice Ivy returns with a HUGE new track, laden with incredibly funky saxes, wicked guitars and brilliant vocals from both herself and guest artist RaRa. Every single pocket of air is filled with sound, making for one damn enjoyable song from the electro-soul artist. I love absolutely everything about this track, and can’t wait for more. - Litche, Look Up
The opening notes of this song are immediately, powerfully magnetising, crawling right under my skin as new layers of percussion and synth loops slowly build the atmosphere. It breaks into an incredibly smooth, syncopated beat, and continues to play with sound, space and rhythm throughout. I absolutely love instrumental tracks like this. - Thelonious Martin, Bomaye ft. Joey Purp
This week’s Adult Swim Single comes from Savemoney producer Thelonious Martin, atop which Joey Purp shows us what the hype’s all about. The production is brilliant – big, bold and brash, with temperate beats making for a cool contrast against Purp’s wildly impassioned bars. There’s a nice little sample breakdown midway, and once we’re back on board, Purp really flexes his flow – this is a remarkably impressive song. Martin’s dropping his own project, Late Night Programming, later this year – do not sleep on it. - BV, Huh
Formerly known as Black Vanilla, BV return today with their first song of 2016. Huh is a big, many-layered tune that I’ve now spun for about half an hour straight and I still can’t get enough. Deep and seductive, the huge beat and trappy vibes are softened to perfection by Marcus Whale’s stunning vocals. In their own words, the song “is about the world we surround ourselves in. Somehow, while we’re passively summoning our own destruction, we can be optimistic by making ourselves collective, creating solidarity.” - Porsches, Blood to a Shark
Sydney duo Porsches are back with a thumping new tune, Blood to a Shark. I’m not usually a fan of dance stuff around this tempo (a strange comment, I am aware), but the track is packed with shimmering melodies,airy, stretched out synths and a dance-floor ready rhythm that you can’t help but bop along to. It’s already stuck in my head and I feel like it’ll be there for a while. - Flyying Colours, It’s Tomorrow Now
I’ll be honest: I have never listened to Flyying Colours before. But now that I’ve heard this phenomenal new track, the Melbourne band have themselves a huge new fan. Straight away you’re thrust into a heavy as fuck riff, before breathy vocals and a psychedelic melody take centre stage. And that solo? Screeeeech! I can’t wait to explore more on their newly announced debut album, due out in September. This is definitely my favourite track of the week. - Safia, Over You
Finally this week comes a brand new tune from Canberra’s own Safia, and I gotta say, it is damn good. Their sound continues to refine as they progress as a group, and this is one of their best tracks yet. The vocals in particular are spooky and theatrical, a great contrast to the big, bumpin’ bass. They’ve also finally announced their long-awaited debut album Internal, and if this is anything to go by then we’re in for an incredible Australian release come September 9.
Note this track isn’t in the playlist below – listen here.
Image: Flyying Colours – Supplied
Once again, this week brought some serious action in terms of new music so once again, you were probably a little overwhelmed with who or what to listen to. Never fear though, because your friendly neighbourhood Howl & Echoes are here to give you the ten best tracks from the week. Don’t say we don’t do anything for you…
Aquilo, Good Girl
Having just killed it on the European Summer festival circuit, Aquilo are back in action with the release of Good Girl. Featuring attention grabbing vocals, heavy bass and a hook that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head (sorry), this track is all you need for your Friday afternoon!
Sam Frankl, Macondo
This is Sam Frankl’s first ever track, and as far as first ever tracks go, this one is a doozy. Smooth and downtempo, Macondo lulls you into an almost trance-like state. His voice pierces the hypnotic rhythm based track, his slightly accented pronunciation making for an intriguing listen but nonetheless extremely enjoyable.
Wallace, Vinyl Skip (Tyler Touché Late Night Mix)
Tyler Touché has really outdone himself with this remix. What was once a soulful, gentle number has been turned into a late night dubby jam, complete with house sensibilities and Touché’s token flourishes that give his tracks that little bit more. This is the latest in a string of fantastic releases from the Brisbane producer, in which he continually outdoes himself. Although this is one of my favourites to come from him, I can’t wait to hear how good the next one is going to be.
Alison Wonderland, Games (Hermitude Remix)
Two of Australia’s heavy weights, together again. It seems since Alison Wonderland jumped on to remix Hermitude’s The Buzz, the boys have decided to return the favour and have done so spectacularly. Both acts require no introduction, and you can pretty much guarantee this is going to be huge before listening, and you’d be right. Taking Games even further into the trap field, Hermitude keep her original vocals and build a huge wall of bassy, skittering beats around them. Don’t listen to this one in public unless you’re prepared to face the consequences of throwing down in the middle of Woolworths.
Porsches, Karate
Porsches are one of the more exciting acts to emerge from Sydney this year, with the infectious Horses immediately being added to the Canon of “must have” party tunes. Now, it seems they’re set to do it again with Karate. Good vibes at an all time high, the high pitched vocals a la Empire Of The Sun are perfectly to the tropical, warm beats that are laid down. It’s as if they’ve taken note of everything good about Australian dance music, and packed it into one neat little band. Expect to hear a lot more of these guys in the very near future.
DIIV, Dopamine
I love DIIV. Anything by DIIV. Including this song.
The Japanese House, Cool Blue
Suddenly all over the place, it seems everyone wants a piece of The Japanese House – and for good reason. She makes music that dreams are made of, and her latest track Cool Blue is perhaps my most favourite yet. Gentle and repetitive, light and airy, it pulls you in and holds you there whilst it swirls around you. Taken from her upcoming EP out later this year, The Japanese House is the next big thing and it’s tracks like this that show why.
Go Freek, Empire
I’m still not 100% sure what “gutter tech” is, but if that’s what this is then I’m all over it. The Go Freek boys continue their fantastic run lately with yet another industrial house track brimming with late night party vibes, bouncy lasers and an Empire Of The Sun sample that’s never sounded this good. Although they’ve been releasing a string of collaborations with the likes of Dom Dolla and LO’99, Empire shows the boys are more than capable to bring the heat on their own. Gutter tech forever!
Hayden Calnin, White Night (Thrupence Remix)
Soft and delicate, Hayden Calnin has made a name for himself by making beautiful music, and White Night is no exception. Add some Thrupence into the mix, and the beauty is just about stunning. Stripping the track right back, Thrupence substitutes the grand production for a simplistic piano melody and static feedback. Calnin’s voice rings out, clear and crisp as Thrupence adds more and more until it sounds like a full choir of Calnins. Truly something special.
Zola Jesus, Circles
I can’t deny that we aren’t major Zola Jesus fans here, so we may be a little biased. However, if you listened for yourself, you can see why. That voice, those drums; this is an incredible track. Circles is taken from their forthcoming Nail EP, it’s safe to say that is going to be one amazing release, and a release we can’t wait to hear.
It’s still Summer where Kilter’s at. Today the producer released a very belated summer good timer with fellow Sydney-siders Porsches entitled Want 2 – and it makes me Want 2 go back to Summer.
Though it would’ve fit perfectly amongst the heat and good times of the warmer months, it’s also perfect as a release that looks back on those times. Kilter and Porsches have created a perfect nostalgic track for the middle, colder months of the year. Look back on what’s happened and start looking forward to the end of the year and what it holds.
The synth pumps and the percussion is jumpy, but the vocals and the strummed and plucked guitar brings it down to a very cruisey level. The swelling of synths, especially at breaks without percussion even sounds like you’re being transported through time back to Summer – it’s really really nice. Want 2 follows a bunch of remixes that Kilter’s put out this year, for ODESZA, Hermitude and his collab with GRMM, Look At Me.
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He’s set to play a bunch of shows coming up, supporting Carmada on their sold out Australian tour, as well as playing the etcetc Vivid Music showcase alongside Porsches for the first ever live performance of the track. Check more details and artists playing the showcase below, and grab tickets here.
