Another Friday, another playlist. Once again, we have searched high and low to bring you 10 new tracks you should have on your radar from this week. We’ve got some soul-pop, some sugary-sweet electro, some Courtney Barnett-esque story telling, collabs, debuts and more. Enjoy!
Jodie Abacus, Hot Kitchen
Soul-pop at it’s finest, Jodie Abacus take the award for “Most Fun Track of the Week” with Hot Kitchen. That bassline, that voice, those lyrics – this is almost too good. It’s almost impossible not to move to this song, with it’s nostalgic yet modern approach and a hook that won’t quit. Hot Kitchen is so damn funky, but still encompasses that pop style that makes it extremely accessible as well. It really is the best of both worlds with this bad boy.
Cameron Avery, We’re Just Making It Worse (Ft. Alexandra Savior)
Tame Impala bassist Cam Avery used to make music under the moniker The Growl, and whilst he may have retired that name for the time being, he certainly hasn’t retired his burgeoning talent as a solo artist in general. Teaming up with good mate Alexandra Savior, he has now released the following to his very successful last single, You Can Leave Me On Boxing Day, with this brooding, dramatic, and really enjoyable new track. Let’s hope there is more where this came from!
GRRL PAL, Caught By The Light
Perth duo GRRL PAL win the award for most consistent act of the year, as they wrap up their busiest and best year yet. Pumping out a song a month for the best part of 2015, the duo return for one last track for the year with Caught By The Light – a sugary sweet number that pairs Jay LeKat’s pop vocals with Danny K’s thick production. Don’t let the PC Music influence fool you, there is defiance and power in LeKat’s lyrics. 2016 looks REALLY good for these two!
Charlie Hilton, 100 Million
Teaming up with none other than Mac DeMarco for this track, Charlie Hilton is readying herself and the world for her solo album out early next year. Normally a member of Blouse, 100 Million is a truly beautiful song. Like a summer breeze gently blowing through your backyard on a lazy summer afternoon, Hilton and DeMarco are a match made in heaven with this nostalgic tune, and it is the perfect soundtrack for Australia’s incoming summer. The heat isn’t so bad when this is playing.
Slow Turismo, Falter
Slow Turismo continue to fight the good fight against generic indie pop/rock, and they have once again released an absolute ripper with Falter. Dynamic, refined and a lot of fun, the band have once again bettered themselves for this latest release and are sounding the best they ever have. It’s upbeat, it’s catchy and it’s rocking enough to really get you going, and it’s also really exciting to think about what they might have in store for us in the new year.
Moonbase Commander, Mirror Mirror (Ft. Cakes Da Killa)
Sydney bass producer Nick Luke, aka Moonbase Commander, has finally shared his latest EP this week. Titled Southpaw, it’s a four-track release that is almost tailormade for throwing down at a party. Sounding like what TNGHT could have been if they were still making music together in 2015, Luke has really outdone himself with this EP and Mirror Mirror is a particular highlight. Teaming up with NYC rapper Cakes Da Killa (the pair have also worked together on another previously released track which is also on Southpaw), Cakes’ sassy flow and MBC’s filthy beats complement each other perfectly. Not wanting to go out tonight? Put this on and try to resist.
Fraser A. Gorman, Skyscraper Skyline Blues
Signed to Courtney Barnett‘s Milk! Recordings, Fraser A. Gorman has been quick to catch the attention of new fans and critics alike with his incomparable songwriting skills and folky nature that sits perfectly alongside his label mates. This latest track is taken from a Milk! Recordings compilation titled Good For You, and whilst the actual release won’t be out until February next year, we have Skyscraper Skyline Blues to tide us over until we can have the full thing – and that certainly isn’t a bad thing.
Samm Henshaw, Autonomy (Slave) (Ft. Bonkaz)
One of this year’s most hyped artists has to be Samm Henshaw. Touring with international acts, being picked by tastemakers as an artist to watch for 2016, signing to Colombia (Sony) and many more accolades, Samm Henshaw is enjoying some great success right now – and rightly so. His voice is one that sticks with you long after you’ve heard one of his songs, and this latest release is no exception. Teaming up with MOBO Award nominee Bonkaz, Autonomy (Slave) is yet another stunning release from the artist, and is the type of song that sets your insides on metaphorical fire with his burning passion. We just can’t get enough of Samm Henshaw, and something tells us he’s only getting started.
Yuma X, Smoke Trails
Mysterious Sydney duo Yuma X seemingly appeared out of nowhere earlier this year, but we are REALLY glad they did. They make stunning songs, and although their catalogue is rather limited, what they do have on offer makes up for it. Smoke Trails is their third release from their forthcoming EP Home Recordings, and whilst it sits at just below 2 minutes, it’s also their most alluring and captivating. Truly beautiful, we can’t get enough of this duo.
Charles Murdoch, Back To It (Ft. Oscar Key Sung and Banoffee)
Finally releasing his eagerly awaited debut album today, Brisbane producer and Future Classic signee Charles Murdoch looks set to wrap up the year in style now. Becoming known as one of the most innovative and ambitious producers on the local and national scene, he has been hard at work on his debut, and now – along with a new single – we can finally hear it. Teaming up with Oscar Key Sung and Banoffee for this one, his sparse but controlled beats are on full display here as he takes you on a journey with his music. Teaming up with two of the country’s most promising artists for vocal duties also comes in handy too, and Murdoch executes this to full effect.
This week’s playlist is one that will chill you out more than the harsh Australian winter. It’s made up of absolutely sublime songs from a great mix of artists, from the sophisticated to the soulful. Happy Friday!
Airling – Stallin’
Brisbane singer Hannah Shepherd, also known as Airling released her EP Ouroboros last year, but has had a bit of time off recently. However, that all changed this week with the release of a new track, Stallin’. Featuring a VERY different sound for the artist, this track is smooth, sexy and sophisticated, drawing influence from the R&B greats. Although it may have come as a surprise to the Airling faithful, there is no denying her voice is perfectly suited to this style. Let’s hope we hear more of this in the very near future!
Leo Kalyan – Golden Age
Leo Kalyan has been on my radar for a few months, and if he’s not on yours yet this song will surely change that! The London singer is about to drop a new EP titled Silver Linings at the end of this month, and his incredibly smooth voice is on full display with Golden Age. The layering and dynamics in the song are powerful, emotive and so strong, but also conducted in a way that is calming in the way it floats along. Sublime.
Slow Turismo – I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up
I’m not easily impressed when it comes to indie rock, but something about the Slow Turismo guys just gets me. Maybe it’s the way they fit about four songs in one, maybe it’s that lead vocal, or the way they work seamlessly together to let their songs grow and breathe, but there is definitely something about them that does it for me and their new single, I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up is another excellent example of this!
Roseau – New Glass
Roseau has already worked with Lapalux, been included on Bonobo‘s Late Night Tales, has toured with Lianne La Havas, and has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Not too bad for someone who is still yet to release their debut album! However, the wait for that is soon to be over, with the release of New Glass and the confirmation that her album, Salt is on the way! If you’ve not heard of her, New Glass is a perfect way to be introduced. Unpredictable, alive and packed with enough party vibes that it could get any dancefloor going, I was hooked from about 10 seconds in.
Gypsy & The Cat + Client Liaison – Evolution
Two of Australia’s greatest acts of the last 10 years have teamed up and, after teasing fans for a while, they have finally released their first collaborative track. Heralding their return to the scene, Gypsy & The Cat have found perfect musical harmony in Client Liaision, and Evolution is all I thought it would be and more. Showcasing both duos great strengths (they both have many), the track is predictably high energy, powerful and so much fun, but now all it’s got me doing is hoping for a joint tour! (Hint, hint).
Cleopold – Down In Flames
You might recognise Cleopold’s voice from Cassian‘s Running or Miami Horror‘s Love Like Mine, but now it’s time for this singer/songwriter to go it alone with the release of his debut single, Down In Flames. Having signed to Chet Faker‘s label Details Co., he has definitely taken some influence from his labelhead when it comes to this song, but has done enough to distance himself and create a sound entirely his own. He is set to record his debut album later this year, and that is one record I can’t wait to hear!
I’lls – Keep
I’lls are one of those groups that continually, without fail, out do themselves with every release. Keep is the latest addition in this trend, and once again the boys have stepped up even further. This is the second single from their forthcoming EP Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country (out next week via Solitaire Recordings), and has only added to our anticipation of it’s release. Totally lush, this beautiful track caresses you and makes you feel okay. We cannot wait to see these three in action at Splendour later this month!
Safia – Embracing Me
It’s no secret that Safia are onto something really good, and have had a huge last few months. Now, with the release of their new single, Embracing Me, they can probably expect even more. The kaleidoscopic breakdown, the warm chorus that has come just in time for the Australian winter, the infectious melody – Safia have once again flexed their musical skills and remain forerunners in the electronic/indie game.
Statik Selektah – All You Need Ft. Action Bronson, Ab-Soul & Elle Varner
Yes, we covered this track already, but it’s so damn good it can’t not be in this week’s playlist. Bronson and Ab-Soul shine through with their verses, and the beautiful, swelling, jazzy, soulful vibes from Selektah are like a dream. Elle Varner’s electrifying voice gives the track even more life, but it really comes down to Selektah’s flawless production that makes the track what it really is.
Manor – Can You Hear Me Talking At You
Melbourne duo Manor released this bad boy just yesterday, and we are so glad they did. Enchanting and soft vocals, hypnotic melodies and searing guitars, Can You Hear Me Talking At You is one of the more beautiful tracks I’ve heard in quite some time. Mixed by Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) in Shoreditch, London and mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Unknown Mortal Orchestra) in Brooklyn, NYC, that would probably explain the worldly feel to the song – mature, self-assured and although seemingly tough, quite sweet and gentle as well.
Slow Turismo, Corners
This track caught our attention a while back. The delicate vocals, gently growing ambience and the beautifully contrasted guitars came together to create something very cool. Now, they’ve got a video clip to accompany the single; a hazy, blurry-eyed kaleidoscope of scenes and people and nightlife and colour. As the track blooms and the video progresses, it starts to get weirder and more eerie, with tripped out camera effects and the kind of double-vision shake you get when you’ve had a few too many.
Scattered Clouds, Enchanteresse
This track is eerie, dark and phenomenally strange. The video clip can be described in exactly the same way. An intentionally befuddling montage of paint, flowers and so on set the scene, before an extremely creepy sad clown interweaves with clips of a somehow even creepier school classroom, in which some of the kids also have clown makeup. And that’s only the first two minutes.
I’m not really sure what’s going on. I think my brain just exploded a bit, but in the best way possible. If you like this sound, check ’em out here.
Laura Marling, Gurdjieff’s Daughter
It will surprise many people to discover that I’m a very big Laura Marling fan. Accessible folk-pop? I know. Anyway, she’s got a new album out, and here’s the video from the single Gurdieff’s Daughter, a simple and lovely track with a great Dire Straights-ish vibe. In the clip, she shows the world her California – her friends, her home, her bed. Parts of it really make her look like a kind of therapist, reassuring people and helping them out, which is interesting considering the subject matter.
Shelley Segal, Sidelined
Shelley Segal is an upcoming Melbourne pop artist, with a folk-inspired sound and a beautiful message in her new single Sidelined. The track has a really great rhythm, and a kind of acoustic, sugary blues vibe overall. The video clip starts off with Segal, unkempt and sans makeup. She sings about how her love interest is only interested in finding a “skinny lover.” “If you’re not beautiful you’ll be sidelined…. I thought love was supposed to be blind,” she sings. As the video goes on, her hair is tended to and makeup artists start painting up her face. Lipstick, blush, the whole shebang. Later on there’s a really powerful shot of the unmade Shelley standing in a mirror next to made up Shelley. It really hits home. A powerful and catchy song about body image, with a beautiful, really interesting video clip. My winner for the week.
Catlips, Fade
By now, the name Catlips is everywhere, so I’m sure you know who we’re talking about. With her relentlessly modern sound and ultra-hip image, the video clip for Fade is exactly what you might expect; it playfully uses colour and gender to create something weird, very interesting and super psychedelic (not sure if it’s a good or bad trip, but a trip nonetheless.) It all culminates after the two-minute mark, when a weird orgy ensues, after which each character join together for dancing, fan-waving and, apparently, worshipping a mini-fridge.
Ben Wright Smith, No One
This track is new yet so familiar, I get this crazy nostalgic vibe which demands my attention as much as the beauty of the track itself. Anyway, the video clip for Ben’s track No One features a middle-aged man learning martial arts on what looks like a really gorgeous deserted island. He’s zen. He’s in the moment. And every now and then, he’s seeing a hazy Ben Wright Smith’s face and angel-hair floating in the air, singing. He meditates and focuses hard, until he overcomes his faults and seemingly becomes a master of the sport. What a fucking legend.
Canberra indie rockers Slow Turismo have released a new single to coincide with the announcement of a co-headline east coast tour with Tully on Tully. Corners, recorded at Sing Sing Studios with producer and engineer Aaron Dobos, examines the difficulty of self-control. The impressively layered track, complete with shimmering synth and guitar work, is more ambitious and progressive than earlier singles Breathe and Thunderstorm. Watch these guys closely, they showed with Breathe that they can add brass to a track tastefully and Corners jams as much epic as it can into 3 minutes.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/188542505″]
Tour Details are:
Melbourne – Friday 6 March @ The Retreat Hotel
Sydney – Thursday 19 March @ Brighton Up Bar
Canberra – Friday 20 March @ Transit Bar
Lennox Heads – Friday 17 April @ The Lennox Hotel
Brisbane – Saturday 18 April @ The Bearded Lady
Ticketing details are on Slow Turismo’s Facebook