Carly Rae Jepsen – Cut To The Feeling
Enter Carly Rae Jepsen. This song is the sonic personification of pure joy. And to think this was scrapped from her 'Emotion' album and is now being used to soundtrack the kid’s film Leap. Sacrilege.
Rita Ora – Your Song
These days Rita is known more for her celebrity status than her music, so now she’s moved label to Atlantic they’ve got quite the task ahead of them bringing focus back to the music. Your Song doesn’t quite achieve that. It’s what you might call a grower: initially it passes by uneventfully, but slowly the Clean Bandit-esque synths dig their way in (that’ll be the Atlantic influence). But is this really the sort of song to make a splash on your big return? Nope.
Nick Jonas feat. Anne-Marie & Mike Posner – Remember I Told You
Here’s another song that might easily slip you by. It’s a smooth R&B pop jam that’s typical of the newly grown-up Jonas, a sound that Charlie Puth is currently clamouring for with Attention. Realistically, though, this song is of more benefit to Anne-Marie who’ll be riding the waves of yet another feature to make a splash in the US. And Mike Posner? What’s he even doing here?
Little Mix feat. Stormzy – Power
Power is the quintessential Little Mix single: a fierce pop track about female empowerment. “You’re the man, but I’ve got the power,” they sing over roaring motorbikes. At least, on the album version. For this single re-release, Stormzy comes in for a guest rap and steals all the attention which somewhat ruins the whole point. Also his rap comes instead of the “motorbike motorbike…” middle eight bit. Also the mix makes it sound like the girls are singing in a vacuum. Stick with the album version.
Neiked feat. Mimi – Call Me
Sexual has no doubt been the surprise hit of recent times. Neiked now follow up with a similarly fun, bubbly, tropical pop track that’s forcing its way into our ears just in time for summer. That “you give me feels” line though. I have feelings about that. FEELINGS.
Martin Garrix feat. Troye Sivan – There For You
Troye Sivan is the latest popstar to join forces with DJ-producer Martin Garrix after the massive hit Scared To Be Lonely with Dua Lipa and last year’s In The Name of Love with Bebe Rexha. There For You is a more muted affair in keeping with Sivan’s style, but with a choppy synth chorus typical of Garrix. It’s more of a middle of the tracklist album track for either artist than a hit single though.
Dagny – Wearing Nothing
Another week, another amazing Norwegian popstar releasing a brilliant pop track. Classic pop structure, but with a few surprises. Fun yet icy cool production. Sexy, yet classy. And a great hook. Shall we all just move to Norway now?
Alt-J – Adeline
Adeline is the third track to be released from the band’s forthcoming third album and it’s a stunner. We might be hitting the summer, but this is all frosty plucked guitars and a sustained quivering vocal that shivers and haunts. Over its nearly six minute duration it layers up towards a widescreen conclusion of voices calling out in the mist, thundering drums and swirling romantic strings. This is alt-J at their majestic best.
Postiljonen – Crazy
Swedish band Postiljonen have had a couple of fun, 80s dream-pop albums. This new single is no exception, Mia Bøe wistfully singing “baby, we were crazy once” with her head firmly up in the clouds and the band’s trademark saxophone chiming in the distance. If pop music were a soft blanket it would sound like this.
Allie X feat. Valley Girl – Need You
Need You is taken from the Canadian singer’s forthcoming second LP ‘CollXtion II’. ‘CollXtion I’ is a hard act to follow, but this subdued ballad is brimming with heartbreak. “Sitting here with a fist full of ashes and a heart that I can’t even use,” she sings with vocals warped through a vocoder, “I don’t need you anymore”. Valley Girl replies: “And now that you’re gone days are wasted, way too long”. All of this suffering over a bed of yearning guitars and a beat that keeps plodding on regardless. Beautiful.
