Whilst the Sugababes have been busy playing musical chairs
over the last eleven years, MKS (a.k.a the Origibabes) have reformed and been
busy beavering away on new music for what’s seemed like an eternity of tweets, teasers
and Kendrick Lamar samples. And now Flatline has finally been released,
causing the internet to implode.
It’s a song worth imploding over though. Produced by Dev Hynes, this is a mid-tempo
track about a relationship that’s fallen flat – a sentiment beautifully summed
up in the chorus lyric “I can feel a flatline that ought to be a wave”. A little bit Foals-y in its opening guitar lick;
a little bit Solange-y in its cool poise; and a little bit Florence-y in its
epic final chorus of vocal ad-libs, this has everything you could want in a pop
song.
The pre-chorus is amazing.
The softly cooing vocal harmonies are stunning. And the pounding drums towards the end are
huge.
This could well be one of the best pop tracks of 2013.
Listen immediately.
5/5
Listen: Flatline is
officially released on September 1st.