Sunday 13 March 2016

New Music Roundup

ZAYN – LIKE I WOULD

ZAYN – LIKE I WOULD

Amidst all the Frank Ocean-esque whispering falsetto, Zayn has finally released the banger we’ve all wanted. Sure, it’s Zayn grasping his The Weeknd obsession with both fists, but the beat and production rivals Can’t Feel My Face in the best way possible.

Like I Would is out now. Album 'Mind Of Mine' is released on March 25th.




Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman

Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman

After the terrible Focus (a.k.a Problem mk. II), Dangerous Woman sees Ariana back on top form with a single that’s pure fire. “I wanna savour, save it for later, the taste of flavour, ‘cause I’m a taker”, she purrs over a stark yet loaded beat. But is she singing about sex or those donuts she licked?

Dangerous Woman is out now.




Tinashe – Tinashe

Tinashe – Tinashe

If you’re after sex jams, though, look no further than Tinashe’s newly released collection 'Tinashe', in fact her previous two mixtapes 'Reverie' and 'Black Water' combined. Where her debut 'Aquarius' dabbled in pop-R&B, this material has a darker, experimental aesthetic of late night love making, all gentle hip-hop beats, sumptuous textures and seductive vocals that blend old school R&B with modern futurism. Tracks like Fugitive and Vulnerable stand out for their mournful yet sexually-charged vibes, but mostly this is a consistently brilliant collection of cutting-edge production that seems to last forever – and that’s no bad thing.

Listen to: Fugitive, Vulnerable and Ecstasy

‘Tinashe’ is out now.




Låpsley – Long Way Home

Lapsley – Long Way Home

Where Jack Garrett recently released his debut album shortly after winning the BBC Sound of 2016, it's taken Låpsley a year since her nomination in 2015. And where he fuses multiple genres Låpsley goes for a more minimalist approach. In many ways she's a female James Blake with a stronger pop leaning, delicate electronic production matching her crystal clear vocals. She's at her best when that voice offers melancholic feeling, as on highlight Hurt Me and the gently cascading Love Is Blind. Most of the album feels empty by comparison, the icy cool leaving little room for depth of emotion.

Listen to: Hurt Me, Love Is Blind

'Long Way Home' is out now.




Gwen Stefani – Misery

 Gwen Stefani – Misery

Break-ups sure can last a long time, but the release of Gwen’s new album has been dragged out longer than her recent divorce. Still, if it results in the sort of intelligent yet underappreciated pop she’s making at the moment, the album will be worth waiting for. “Put me out of my misery” she pleads in the chorus, as much a heart-wrenching statement to her ex-husband as it is a reflection of her ever so patient fans.

Misery is out now. Album 'This Is What The Truth Feels Like' is out on March 18th. 




LANY – WHERE THE HELL ARE MY FRIENDS

 LANY – WHERE THE HELL ARE MY FRIENDS

Honestly, Lany were way under the radar until this gem popped up amongst new releases. Their previous material was typically polished 80s dream-pop stuff, but this new track has a more traditional band setup, with muted guitars and live drums amongst the wistful synths and yearning vocals. There’s a real West Coast feel to it all reflected in the chorus lyric “Am I starting to hate California? Why am I in L.A?”, the band juxtaposing their rise to fame with their distance from home.

WHERE THE HELL ARE MY FRIENDS is out now.




Bat For Lashes – In God’s House

 Bat For Lashes – In God’s House

Natasha Khan has always been known as a conceptual artist, but her forthcoming album ‘Brides’ looks to be her most fascinating yet, inspired by a film she wrote and directed entitled I Do in which a woman’s fiancé is killed on the way to their wedding. In God’s House suggests the album will explore dark themes through typical Bat for Lashes sounds of synths and organs that throb and haunt. The combination of music and film is a tantalising prospect.

In God’s House is out now. ‘The Bride’ will follow on July 1st.




All Saints – One Strike

All Saints – One Strike

All Saints return with the MKS single we’ve all been waiting for. Or is it that the 90s girl band provided the three-piece with inspiration? Either way, One Strike is the group’s best track since Pure Shores. Whether it can actually crack mainstream airwaves beyond old fans, though, remains to be seen.

One Strike is out now. Album 'Red Flag' is released on April 8th. 




We Are I.V – Da Blues

 We Are I.V – Da Blues

Da Blues is taken from the French dance quartet’s self-titled debut EP, out now. Choppy vocal samples, vibrant synths and funky rhythms are in abundance, giving Daft Punk vibes with an alt-pop twist. Uptempo happiness and infectious beats – what’s not to love?

‘We Are I.V’ is out now.




M83 - Do It, Try It

M83 - Do It, Try It

"Anything we create today is going to end up being space junk at one point anyway", said M83's Anthony Gonzalez. That's a pretty bleak thought, but on Do It, Try It the French group blend space-age synths and processed vocals with house piano and an almost playful, prog-rock sensibility. Forthcoming album 'Junk' will include features from Beck and Susanne Sundfør - if it continues in this fashion there's no doubt it will stand the test of time, space junk or no.

Do It, Try It is out now, 'Junk' is released on April 8th.