Welcome to The Soundtrack, a column where we plumb the depths of our musical knowledge to bring you the best* (subjective) music to listen to for very specific life situations. This week, we tackle a loaded situation: introducing your partner to your family on Christmas.
It is Christmas, my dudes. Well, not quite, but it’s only a couple paychecks away (so if you haven’t shelled out for presents yet you better get cracking). For many of us, Christmas is less of a religious holiday and more of a chance to visit your family and eat ridiculous amounts of fresh fruit and ham on the bone. It’s the only day of the year where it’s socially acceptable to regress deep into the safe memories and rituals of your childhood while simultaneously getting completely sloshed before lunch. Of course, there are pratfalls to watch out for – racist grandparents, the unbearable sticky heat, and most notably, the dreaded litany of “soooooo how’s your love life?” enquiries. Let’s be honest here, that question isn’t really a comfortable one to chat to your Aunt Rachel about even if yours happens to be going well. But maybe you’ve decided to grit your teeth and jump right into the deep end – by introducing your paramour to your clan. On Christmas Day. Sure, love makes you do crazy things but this is downright tumultuous. The mood has to be just right – comforting for all parties, interesting enough to be a point of conversation if all else fails, showcasing your partner’s ultra-cool tastes but still something your ‘rents are going to dig. We gotchu!
Summer Flake – Son Of A Gun
Summer Flake, aka Stephanie Crase, makes wonderful washed-out music that is both 1) very cool and 2) beloved by Double J listeners, so this one is neatly appropriate for all involved. You want to be able to set a tone that’s breezy and unchallenging for your parents, but still something you and your babe would listen to, allowing a comfortable first introduction for everyone. Son Of A Gun is sonically quite timid, so it won’t encroach on your space while you’re making all the rounds upon arrival. Crase’s lofty vocals, a floaty guitar – it’s all extraordinarily lovely despite its quite emotional lyrics. It’s like taking a nap in the sun, which is, as we all know, what you’ll be doing once you’ve all sufficiently stuffed yourselves with mum’s patented potato salad. If you’re feeling a little uncomfortable or have some trepidation about this introduction, you can hold onto the chorus hook like a handy little mantra: Don’t turn on me, members of my family who have been known to say exactly the most inappropriate things at precisely the absolute worst time. Hum it under your breath while praying nobody brings up anything untoward, like your wild younger years or that time you peed your pants way past the age that’s actually ok.
BadBadNotGood – Time Moves Slow
If you’re like me, maybe you shamefully grew up thinking that jazz was weird and boring and liking it made you Lisa Simpson. By now, you should realise that jazz is weird and AMAZING, and that being Lisa Simpson is an actual #lifegoal anyway. If you haven’t arrived at this true conclusion yet then BadBadNotGood will take you there. Subdued and ambling, Time Moves Slow isn’t unlike something the older members of your family would have listened to on the radio way back when. Its unmistakeable modernity reveals itself a little more as the track progresses, but things never get too out-there, making it a great salve – a marriage of two worlds. Plus, Samuel T. Herring’s voice is as entrancingly silky as they come. By this point, it’ll likely be lyrically appropriate as well: time certainly does tend to move slow when you’re anxiously watching everyone’s body language and internally begging with some universal force that this is going well.
The Goon Sax – Anyone Else
This one might skate right on the edge of what your family would be into, but just preface it by saying the frontman is Robert Forster from The Go-Betweens‘ son and they’ll be chill about it. There’s something to be said about the perfect amount of jangle in a song, especially if you’re going to play it in a romantic or romance-adjacent situation. It lends a Wes Anderson-esque touch that’ll help you gloss over any foibles that occur with a deadpan blank stare and a long sip of your drink. Bonus points if you’re wearing bright yellow or heavy eyeliner. See, it’s not so bad that someone just asked a super awkward question. It’s quirky! Your life is full of misadventures and idiosyncracies! In all seriousness though, The Goon Sax are a national treasure and have so much crossover appeal when it comes to different ages that you’re actually being musically irresponsible if you don’t play them for your family.
Crowded House – Weather With You
This is what I call an intergenerational banger. I’d like to say something to the effect of “if you don’t know the words you’re unaustralian”, but as Flight Of The Conchords pointed out at the ARIAs, us Aussies have a very annoying habit of claiming successful NZ musicians as our own, so I won’t. I’ll just say that if you don’t know the words you probably suck as a person. There. Much less inflammatory. Anyway, your parents probably gave Into Temptation and have their buzz on a little by this point and so do you, so now is the time for a nice, bonding sing-along, creating your own little Private Universe. Something So Strong like music really works as a social unifier, and the older people at the table will just adore that “the youths” are still fangin’ Crowded – although, let’s be real, It’s Only Natural. As you sit there on the porch under the sweltering yet Distant Sun, eyes twinkling with the effects of too much bubbly and paper hats lopsided, you’ll relax, knowing this day can only improve because your grandma totally brought her famous Chocolate Cake.
Wham! – Last Christmas
If you try to make a Christmas playlist without either this or Mariah Carey in it, Santa gives you coal in your stocking, and I’d much prefer normal things like sunscreen, socks and a new toothbrush. I guess you could sub in Mariah for this if you wanted to, but I guarantee you that more of your family will appreciate Wham!, unless you have some homophobic relatives. I’ll let you be the judge on this one. Honestly though, for this Very Specific Situation, the whimsical drama of this one works better than the grandiose begging of All I Want For Christmas. But hey, I don’t know your life.
Image: Universal
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 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:
Tigertown – Lonely Cities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSg1hJZVoL4
Lonely Cities by Sydney’s Tigertown is a song you’ve no doubt heard being flogged all over the airwaves in recent times. It’s a heavenly slice of stomping electro pop, the chorus transporting you back around 2009 when bands like MGMT and Passion Pit were at their pinnacle.
The accompanying video for Lonely Cities is out today. Shot as a triptych of constantly changing situations, though dancing seems to be the order of the day. There are splashes of vibrant colour everywhere and it makes the video just as fun as the song itself.
You can find Lonely Cities on the EP of the same name, out now via Inertia.
Summer Flake – Tumbling Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmyrIR7tab8
Summer Flake are a trio out of Adelaide with a brand new single. Tumbling Down and its video landed this week, the latest from their album Hello Friends which was released earlier in the year. The song is some brooding and atmospheric folk, frontlady Steph Crase’s sweet but strong vocals and a gently strummed acoustic guitar the anchor.
The video was shot on the altar of a church in South Australia and comes complete with its own choir, which is just one of the many perks of shooting in a church I guess (sweet acoustics too!).
Hello Friends is out now via Rice Is Nice. You can catch Summer Flake live on their Hello Friends tour of Australia kicking off tonight in Hobart!
Tacocat – Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMHvSNtWjnw&feature=youtu.be
Winning the band name award for ‘Things The Internet Loves Mashed Together’ are Tacocat out of Seattle this week and their brand new single Talk. Coming from their latest record Lost Time, the song is a straightfoward chugging rocker with almost shades of The Misfits once it builds to that huge chorus.
Ultraviolet is the running theme in the accompanying video, hues of it splattered over nails, lips, guitars and clothes, gaudy neon lights blinking across the whole video. Glittery and glam visuals over a no-frills rock and roll song? I’ll take it any day of the week.
Lost Time is out now on Hardly Art via Inertia.
Lupa J – Numb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub03QBgTEkM
It’s strange to think Sydneysider Lupa J only just finished high school and has already made a name for herself this big. With an EP My Right Name on its way, Numb is a track from it that was written by Lupa J at the age of 15 (the age when most of us were content being general shitheads). It’s a shimmering and pulsating electro pop song, the kind that is just perfect for listening to in the warmth of your own home while there’s a winter drizzle outside.
Speaking of cold, the accompanying video will make you feel just a tad chilly, the video’s protagonist walking through some dreary city rain juxtaposed with shots of Lupa J dancing by the water and tangling herself up in fairy lights to very cool effect.
Having just wrapped up a tour supporting Sarah Blasko, the sky looks the limit for Lupa J and we’re looking forward to that EP immensely.
RJD2 – The Sheboygan Left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH3-sGvkfhk&feature=youtu.be
The only thing I know about Sheboygan was that John Candy’s polka band in Home Alone were (allegedly) a pretty big deal there. The Sheboygan Left, the new single and video from Philadelphia producer RJD2 and his latest album Dame Fortune, isn’t really doing much to update my knowledge of that Wisconsin city but it’s a cracker track nonetheless.
Positively smoking lounge jazzy actually, funk rhythms and a lone jangly guitar building to a big crescendo to play it out. It’s a melting pot of different genres and noises and it’s just so cheery. The video takes place on the New York underground, a pair of contemporary dancers getting around down there and being followed by a shimmering ball of light. Super cool stuff.
Dame Fortune is out now via RJ’s Electrical Connections.
Gypsy And The Cat – I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dayPYqPJgBc
Melbourne duo Gypsy And The Cat are back, and so is that giant-headed cat nightmare from their last music video for Inside Your Mind. I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else is the title of their latest banger, full of clicky percussion and scuttling synths behind some ethereal vocal harmonies. The chorus kicks in in a mammoth way.
The video is fantastic. The cat-headed creature dude continues to traipse around while the rest of Tokyo pretends his existence isn’t a horrifying affront to humanity. He enjoys activities such as the driving range (needs to work on that swing a whole lot) and a karaoke bar with Gypsy And The Cat themselves (have they given up their dogged pursuit of him from only a video ago already?).
More questions than answers here but a great tune and a great video anyway. Gypsy And The Cat’s third LP Virtual Noise is due out in August of this year.
LISHI – Monster Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeuDehnHabY
Mystery shrouds this latest single, the debut effort Monster Kids from a brand new project by the name of LISHI. An atmospheric dream pop experience that almost seems to float in zero-gravity, buoyed by beautifully ghostly vocals that evoke gently falling rain.
The video is a stunner too, directed by visual artist Vasilisa Forbes, featuring its magenta-haired protagonist gliding through gloomy urban surrounds and a mysterious figure in the background, wearing what looks like the sparkliest ninja mask ever forged. It’s an incredibly auspicious debut.
Looking forward to whatever else LISHI has in the works if it’s going to be consistently this good.
Beach Baby – Lost Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8syfP6R7Bio
One of my favourite rock acts going wraps up this week’s roundup in Beach Baby and their brand new single Lost Soul. While not as supercharged as the song you probably know them for in Limousine, Lost Soul is still just as good, jangly guitars and the smoky croon of frontman Ollie leading a song just silly with clever pop hooks.
The lo-fi video finds Beach Baby doing what they appear to do best and jamming out on a glittery gold community hall stage, the lighting somehow shadowy and bright at the same time. With a debut record in the making having signed to Island recently, we’re eagerly awaiting what Beach Baby have in store for 2016.
This week was a doozy when it came to new songs. Coming at us left, right and centre, it seems just about everyone thought this was the perfect week to drop a great new track. But hey, we’re not complaining because we love great new tracks, but it can be hard sifting through all of them to get to the real gems.
Thankfully, we’ve once again got your back, and we’ve narrowed it down to a handful of the absolute best to get your weekend started. Check it out below!
Sango, Life Without God Is Nothing
Part of the Soulection crew, Sango is a god in my books. His beats are always so solid, with nothing but the highest quality coming from him with each and every release. Focussing on intricate drum patterns, he manipulates the sounds accompanying a soulful vocal samples. It’s clean, tight and fresh with it’s soulful, sensual delivery and relaxed groove. He may have just released an EP, but this bad boy is tagged as “ALBUM MATERIAL” so our hopes are high for more releases on the (hopefully near) horizon. The title Life Without God Is Nothing could be up for debate, but right now we’re thinking the same about a life without Sango.
Jodie Abacus, Space Buffalo (Prod. Royce Wood Junior)
Jodie Abacus is a name you have to get acquainted with, because he is set to truly break through this year. After a string of catchy RnB/hip-hop singles last year, he has returned once again with Space Buffalo, and it’s exactly the type of track he should be releasing to take his career to the next level. It’s a track that highlights his stellar voice, paired with nostalgic soulful production courtesy of Royce Wood Junior. The pair are perfect for each other, and it shows. However, even though it might sound like a feel good number, don’t let those lyrics catch you off-guard. They’re sobering and sad, which is a wonder because if I was making songs this good, I wouldn’t be sad at all!
Nico Ghost, Night Terrors
He just finished supporting Wu-Tang Clan on their national tour, and now he’s about to support G-EAZY at his Brisbane gig, so it’s safe to say Nico Ghost’s name is blowing up, and for very good reason. Just listening to his latest single, Night Terrors, you can hear just how much the Melbourne MC has going on. Representing yet another artist heralding in the new era of Australian hip-hop, he spits over a dark, moody beat with a refined approach and progressive lyrics. He is tipped to be one of the next big things in the local hip-hop scene, and if he keeps putting out tracks like this, that is definitely where he is headed.
San Holo, New Sky
San Holo is sitting on a few million plays of his tracks on Soundcloud, and continues to push not only himself, but his peers with each release. New Sky is yet another example of this. Flirting more and more with the experimental side of things, this track is like Mario Kart meets Blade Runner in an underground trap nightclub somewhere in the best way possible. With shimmering synth jabs and soaring samples, San Holo works his magic to deliver an unsuspecting breakdown and a drop of epic proportions. It’s hard hitting, expertly produced and indicative of yet another huge step forward for the Dutch-future bass producer.
Tourist Dollars, Horse Girl
I was a little late to the party when it comes to Tourist Dollars, but I was instantly hooked once I heard their track, End Of Time, last year. So, it makes me really happy to see another new single from them, this time in the form of Horse Girl. It’s equal parts nostalgic as it is forward thinking, as the band’s love affair with reverb and the 60s is reignited once again here. Frontman Jesse McCormack’s voice has never sounded better, and when he sings the final lyrics, “The future is bright,” you get the feeling he could be talking about more than just the obvious meaning. Big things are coming for these guys.
Argonaut & Wasp, Always
These guys have been on our radar for a while now, but this is hands down my favourite track ever from them. Pop in its best form, Always is a summer anthem waiting to happen. It’s got elements of 80s pop, and features a liberating, feel good chorus that would see any party burst into dance. Reminiscent of the indie pop band explosion of the late 00’s, they’ve picked out all the best elements of that time and have thrust it into the future with their modern thinking production and their always progressive song-writing skills. Argonaut & Wasp are one of the hardest working duos I’ve come across in some time, and their ever-evolving and ever-impressive output only gets better and better.
L-FRESH The LION, 1 In 100,000
L-FRESH The Lion is one of the best hip-hop artists in the country right now, and if you aren’t familiar with him yet, his latest single should serve as the perfect introduction for him. Speaking with triple J, L-FRESH said about his track, “When I think about my journey in music, ever since I started it’s felt like, from every angle people have tried to sculpt me to be to their expectations… This song really just speaks to the voice of self and wanting to stand and be my own person regardless of what anyone says or believes.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, L-FRESH. Just try not getting down to the electronic/hip-hop blend this song is, and keep your ears pricked for the traditional tumbi at the start.
Tiny Little Houses, You Tore My Heart Out (Anatole Remix)
Anything producer Anatole touches turns to musical gold in my opinion, and I will hold that until he proves me wrong. Today is not that day. This week, Anatole has jumped on You Tore Out My Heart by indie four piece Tiny Little Houses. Stripping it right back to the bare minimum, Anatole plays with so many different sounds that he builds it back up as a totally different track. Keeping with the original vocals, he flirts with fluttering synths and bubbling electronica, as well as intricate percussion like light cymbals and crips drum beats. It’s seriously beautiful, and once again proves my theory – musical gold!
Summer Flake, Wine Won’t Wash Away
Summer Flake continues plugging away making jus about everyone who hears her excited for the release of her forthcoming album, Hello Friends, with the release of a brand new single. Wine Won’t Wash Away is a warm and fuzzy song, in the way that it’s got warm vocals and fuzzy guitars. It’s a lot more badass than the initial meaning synonymous with “warm and fuzzy” would make you think. The reverb-drenched guitar is paired perfectly with her poignant and emotive lyrics, and has me even more excited to hear Hello Friends come April 8.
Mat Zo, Sinful (Ft. I See MONSTAS)
A nice, fun one to finish off with! Grammy nominated Mat Zo returns once again with a new track that will embed itself in your brain for days on end. Titled Sinful, he has enlisted the help of British three-piece I See MONSTAS for this one, and it’s one of my favourites from him yet. Funky as all hell, it’s reminiscent of Nile Rogers-era Daft Punk meets Disclosure – in other words, a total banger. It’s also been released alongside some pretty spectacular visuals, and has us desperate to hear what else he’s been sitting on. Thankfully, the March 25 release date of his new album, Self Assembly, is fast approaching and our patience has just about run out!
Image of Sango via HypeTrak
As far as best songs go, these are ten of the best. We’re now in February and the consistently high quality of music output that we’ve seen over the past four weeks ago hasn’t dwindled once in the new month. If anything, it’s gotten even better. See for yourself below!
AAA+, Disciple Of Love
Adelaide artist AAA+ dropped a doozy this week with Disciple Of Love– a retro-futuristic electro-pop jam with a lot to give. Sounding like he’s borrowed elements from everyone like Cut Copy to The Chemical Brothers, Disciple Of Love is a pulsing, pounding track that’s driven by its bouncy synth line and crashing drum beat. He’s been kicking around for a while but has never really taken off in his home country – until now!
Summer Flake, Shoot And Score
The more I hear Summer Flake, the more I enjoy her. Taken from her sophomore album, Hello Friends, this tune is called Shoot And Score and is four-and-a-half minutes of droning, mesmerising bliss. “Shoot and score, take what’s yours,” she sings, her guitars thick and heavy as they carry the emotion in her lyrics and voice. This track is dripping in reverb-y goodness, and has done yet another excellent job in reminding me why Summer Flake is so great!
Annabel Jones, IOU
IOU by Annabel Jones has already got the approval of one Zane Lowe, who she debuted it with this week on his Beats 1 show. Now she can add approval from Howl & Echoes too, as I was instantly hooked from the first serene note that kicks the song off. From here, it just gets better and better, with it’s bassy groove and quirky arrangements- not to mention her sassy af lyrics that take it to another level. Total jam.
Pandamic, Heck!
Following along the same vein as bands like Violent Soho and Dune Rats, Pandamic’s new belter Heck! is a beer-drenched anthem with thrashy guitars and punchy drums- but don’t let the bravado fool you. It’s a forlorn love song at it’s heart, it just tricks you for a second. With a ripper of a chorus that would no doubt be unreal to join in with at a live show, Heck! is a huge step forward for the boys and one in a direction I can’t wait to see them go down.
Gallant, Skipping Stones (Ft. Jhene Aiko)
Skipping Stones represents when two worlds collide in the best possible way. Featuring two of music’s most incredible voices around at the moment, Gallant and Jhene Aiko have teamed up and it is stunning. Both artists bring their A-game here in a big way as they sing about their empty hearts and beds in a way that casts a spell on you with it’s dreamy arrangement accompanying it. Sounding like Leon Bridges mixed with Sam Smith, Gallant has never sounded this good before, whilst Aiko shows off why she is one of the most hyped up acts in the world- and why she’s so deserving.
Two People, Fading
Fun fact: Two People are actually two people from the now defunct-Snakadaktal. Phoebe Lou and Joey Clough are now trying their hand at a different game, and the first taste of it is impressive to say the least. Hypnotic and spell-binding, Fading is a swirling dream featuring static-y rain, Four Tet-esque production and heavenly vocals. There are huge things in store for these two.
Tinashe, Ride Of Your Life (Prod. Metro Boomin)
Tinashe is the next big pop star, and you only need to listen to any one of her songs to hear why. She has one of the best voices around, possessing a certain “superstar” quality that comes naturally to her. She also has an uncanny knack of picking the right producers to work with, and this latest track with Metro Boomin is no exception. Seductive both in Tinashe’s vocals and Metro Boomin’s trap-styled beats, the two bring out the best in each other with Ride Of Your Life– yet another feather in Tinashe’s already very full cap.
Nina Las Vegas, Now Or Never (Ft. CZ & Swick)
Australian dance music’s leading lady Nina Las Vegas is at it again, dropping another banger via her brand new record label, NLV Records. She teased us all last year with a sampler that featured an original track from each artist on the label – herself included – and now we can finally hear what else she’s been sitting on this whole time. Practically redefining the term “banger” Nina goes in on this track, teaming up with CZ and Swick as if it wasn’t good enough already. It’s like PC Music sent into overdrive, and is a seriously solid release from one of Australia’s most prolific tastemakers. Yaaaaaaas!
Carmada, Realise (Chrome Sparks Remix)
Chrome Sparks is just about to touch down in Australia for a string of shows at the end of the month, and it seems like he’s really getting into the spirit of things by taking Carmada’s hit track, Realise and running with it. Turning it inside out in his own special way, Chrome Sparks shakes up Realise and reassembles it with some slightly off-kilter beats, thick synths and unpredictable drops throughout. This is part of an entire EP of Realise remixes, but we’ve got our money on this being the best one. Chrome Sparks can’t be beaten!
Loose Tooth, Bites Will Bleed
Melbourne three-piece have just today announced that not only are they teaming up with Milk! Records (Courtney Barnett’s label), but that they are dropping a brand new EP on April 1 titled Saturn Returns. To celebrate, the trio have released an absolute wailer in the for of Bites Will Bleed. Scuzzy guitar, booming drums, and vocals that cut through the fuzz, Loose Tooth immediately got me very keen indeed to hear Saturn Returns. Hopefully there is more where this came from!
Image via Two People’s Facebook
We’ve got a slightly extended playlist this week, featuring a completely diverse range of artists, from psych, to electro, to indie-folk, to experimental hip hop and everything in between. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back, relax, and enjoy the best new music of the week.
Moses Gunn Collective – Hole in the Wall
The Brisbane psych-rockers return with a hazy new single, as they continue on their journey to the top of the pile of Australian psychedelia. There’s a beautiful depth – lyrically and tonally – that’s usually kinda hard to see through the washed-out fuzz. It’s glittery and fun, and another delightful taste from their recently-released album Mercy Mountain.
Summer Flake – The Sun Won’t Shine
With a sound nestled comfortably in between Courtney Barnett and Darts, this folky, distinctly Australiana track isn’t my usual fare, but I love it anyhow. I love the organic feel, and the kind of subtle expansiveness. The rhythm and that lo-fi folk melody make for simple, easy listening, and the extra vocals and the heavier guitars really capture my attention, drawing me in to a track that’s catchy and surprisingly dense.
Young Franco – Don’t Want Me ft. Blair De Milo
Young Franco has come a long way in the past couple years – and he’s moving up, up and into orbit. This is a really cool house track, perfect for cocktail hour, but probably more perfect for a late night boogie. The vocals are punchy and smooth, a great complement to the staccatoed synths and wompy bass. YF is heading out on tour, so get those dancin’ shoes on. Details here.
The Cactus Channel – Sleeping Alone ft. Chet Faker
My favourite for the week, hands down. The Cactus Channel have been on my radar for a little while, paving their way with gorgeous brass-infused blues/funk. No doubt this will draw well-deserved attention to them, considering that it features guest vocals from the award-winning beard that is Chet Faker. The slinky, bluesy track fits a late-night-smoky-dive-bar feel. Faker’s voice is fucking awesome on this one, too. It’s smooth, emotive, and so much more relaxed than what we’re usually privy to. Those falsetto phrases with the trumpets behind him? Wow.
The Cactus Channel – Kill The Doubt ft. Chet Faker
Judging by the above review, I think it’s obvious as to why I’m devoting 20% of this playlist to this brilliant joint effort. The second collaborative track between The Cactus Channel and Chet Faker, this one is swifter and full of motion, but somehow darker and denser than Sleeping Alone. I can only hope that these tracks spawn something more – this is one hell of a sound. Not only is it seductively cool, but there’s nothing else quite like it around right now.
SG Lewis – Shivers (HONNE remix)
Continuing in a similar vein comes this soulful electro-R&B SG Lewis remix, courtesy of the enigmatic HONNE. It’s an interesting blend – raw, emotional vocal crooning, atop bulging, smoke-machine synths and muffled vocals. Once the beat starts to form, the atmosphere brightens. I’m not usually one for this kind of house blend, but I couldn’t help but have a little chair-dance to the rhythm and gorgeous melodies throughout.
Roots Manuva – Don’t Breathe Out
Roots Manuva has returned – and this time he means business. Don’t Breathe Out is genuinely one of the best tracks we’ve ever heard from the UK MC (it’s no Witness The Fitness, sure, but it’s close). Understated, with a smooth, comfortable flow and no need to rely on whoops, sirens and huge beats, it’s a clear sign that his musical journey is far from over.
Med, Blu, Madlib – Knock Knock ft. MF DOOM
I don’t really know if I need to even write much about this track. I mean, it’s a track that’s not only filled with super weird and awesome samples, but it has both Madlib and DOOM on it. Like….. enough said.
Lemon – Your Friends (interlude)
This is a deep, dark and entirely sexy track from Toronto artist Lemon. The beat. It’s slow and it’s deep, leaving the perfect amount of space between each layer – you can really feel enveloped, you can really focus on every single layer at once, from the vocals to the bass and everything in between. We hear A LOT of female-fronted electro tracks like this, but this one immediately, obviously, stands out from the pack.
CVIRO & GXNXVS – Sober (Jerome Price Remix) (Radio Edit)
I heard the original of this track a couple months ago, and it didn’t really grab me. But there’s something about Jerome Price’s remix that’s crawled under my skin – whether it’s that bouncy beat or those funked up vocals, the UK producer has taken the track, originally by Aussies CVIRO and GXNXVS (before you ask I have no fucking clue how to pronounce either of them) and put me in the mood for the weekend.
GUM – Anesthetized Lesson
GUM is the latest project from Perth’s Jay Watson (Tame Impala/POND). The instrumental layers are super cool – funky, crunchy synths with a catchy rhythm, supported by a simple beat and a myriad expectedly pscyhedelic space sounds and synth trickles. Admittedly I’m not huge on the faint falsetto vocals, but the rhythm makes up for it. Keep an eye out for Watson’s new album Glamorous Damage, out Nov 13.