Friday 6 May 2016

New Music Roundup

Ariana Grande – Into You

Ariana Grande – Into You

Listening to this ABSOLUTE BANGER will make you feel like more than just a dangerous woman. “I’m so into you I can barely breathe”, she purrs at the start before the chorus drops to leave you truly breathless – “a little less conversation and a little more touch my body”. This sex jam should be your new obsession.




Dua Lipa – Hotter Than Hell

Dua Lipa – Hotter Than Hell





Salt Ashes - Save It

Salt Ashes - Save It

Brighton-based Salt Ashes, a.k.a Veiga Sanchez, has released this banger just in time for the summer. Infectious beats, rousing vocals, and a properly stonking chorus make this an absolute winner.





Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling

Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling

This would’ve sounded brilliant two summers ago. Written with Max Martin and Shellback to soundtrack the new Trolls movie in which he stars, this is essentially Timberlake’s Happy, with its breezy, pop-funk production. It’s a fun summer track, but this is far from the Timberlake comeback we deserve.




Charli XCX – Explode

 Charli XCX – Explode

Another soundtrack piece, this is from the upcoming Angry Birds movie. It’s a world away from the belching computer music of Vroom Vroom, but as fizzy pop tracks go it’s hard to beat.




Katy B – Honey

 Katy B – Honey

It’s a shame that this album is so inconsistent. Over the course of her career, Katy B has become the pop-dance voice of the clubs and this latest album is no exception. The London singer has drafted in some top talent to assist, including KAYTRANADA on the sultry opening title track, Four Tet on the throbbing bass of Calm Down, and of course the now obligatory Craig David vocal on Who Am I – a sad-pop banger that also features Major Lazer. So Far Away is also a highlight, beginning in warm muted fashion before building towards a climactic DnB beat courtesy of Wilkinson. What’s missing, though, is the raw emotion of her last album and its standout single Crying For No Reason. Instead, ‘Honey’ is more Katy B and friends, with a few misplaced steps into grime. When they’re bad they’re bad, but when they’re good they’re great.




Niki & The Dove – Everybody’s Heart Is Broken Now

 Niki & The Dove – Everybody’s Heart Is Broken Now

In stark contrast to the usual Swedish icy cool, Niki & The Dove have followed up their brilliant 2012 debut with an album geared squarely at the summer. So Much It Hurts immediately sets the tone with its warm synths and lazy beats, whilst subsequent tracks deliver Prince-style funk guitars and live drums far removed from the metallic euphoria of their past material. ‘Everybody’s Heart…’ certainly lacks pop hooks, but as the title suggests there’s subtle melancholy in the lyrics and downbeat melodies. The sun-dappled Play It On My Radio is a beautiful summer lullaby, the moody Scar For Love has further hints of Prince, Brand New is all dancing minimalism, and Ode To Dance Floor is a seven and a half minute laidback funk groove that rounds out the album in style. The dance floor, though, is where this Swedish duo ultimately belong.




Pvris – You and I

Pvris – You and I

You and I features on the re-release of the band’s debut album ‘White Noise’, originally released in 2014 – if you missed them the first time there’s no excuse now. In many ways they’re Chvrches meet Paramore, blending electropop with heavy rock to create an awesome sound that epitomises youthful angst. This is a band for the tumblr generation, the gruff vocals of Lyndsey Gunnulfsen soaring over a dense mix of huge guitar riffs and dramatic production, with some pop hooks and “heys!” thrown in for good measure.




Muna – Promise

Muna – Promise

“You tell me you wanna stay and you wanna watch me change / but I’m scared so I tell you to fuck off / why do I do it?”
It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s alluringly dark electro pop from the L.A girl band.




Fifth Harmony – Write On Me


The basics finally stoop to tropical house. It’s good in a “this is so bad I’m enjoying it” kind of way.




Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dark Necessities

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dark Necessities

The Chilis haven’t sounded good since 2002 (‘By The Way’). The bloated ‘Stadium Arcadium’ failed to see the band reach new heights and did anyone even listen to 2011’s ‘I’m With You’? Now the band return with a new album, ‘The Getaway’, but on Dark Necessities they’re showing their age. The funk bass is sluggish, the vocals lack energy and the more mature sound is just dull. This is far from essential.




Alicia Keys – In Common

Alicia Keys – In Common

This is quite a change of pace from the usual piano ballads we expect from Alicia Keys. “It’s sunrise and I’m still in your bed” she sings suggestively, the buoyant dancehall beats providing a rhythmic basis for the tropical production that sounds eerily similar to Drake’s Take Care. It’s not quite iconic, but it’s intriguing hearing the singer heading in a new direction.




Radiohead – Burn The Witch

 Radiohead – Burn The Witch

It’s no Idioteque is it? The video is fun though.

Daydreaming though, is BEAUTIFUL.