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.
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
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.
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.
Listen to: Hurt Me, Love Is Blind
'Long Way Home' is out now.
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.
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
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 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
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
"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.
"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.