Ke$ha - Praying
No guesses for who this song is about. After probably the highest profile legal case in recent music history, Ke$ha pours her heart and soul into this comeback track. And it really is a comeback, rising from the courtroom ashes with an empowering ballad written with Macklemore's Ryan Lewis. The song's message is detailed in a Lenny Letter piece, but really it's an anthem for overcoming any form of struggle and coming out stronger in the end, that high note in the middle eight a soaring moment of catharsis. (The vocals are a bit shouty though, let's be honest)
Zedd & Liam Payne - Get Low
This is the second single from Liam Payne after the pretty abysmal Strip That Down. Get Low is just as generic, this time swapping light hip-hop for tropical house courtesy of Zedd. It's smooth and sultry enough but haven't we heard this a million times before?
Coldplay - A L I E N S
This is probably one of the best tracks Coldplay have released in recent memory, partly because it's so different for them. It harks back to the cold electronica of 'Ghost Stories', all clipped beats and whirring synths. Still, Coldplay doing experimentation is basically Radiohead on a bad day. Writing a song in 5/4 time just comes off as pretentious.
AlunaGeorge - Turn Up The Love
Listening to Turn Up The Love, I can't help but feel AlunaGeorge are running out of ideas. It's another dancehall flecked electro pop track with tropical beats and a title Jessie J would be proud of. They're currently on tour with Coldplay so let's hope that a) that doesn't rub off on them and b) they're given some room to develop further before the next release. Still, I'm a big fan of the pop "hey!".
Lewis Capaldi - Lost On You
This sounds like James Bay offering up a track for some American teen drama: the lead girl has tragically died in a car crash / drug overdose and this song is played over a montage of tears, ending on the rebellious boyfriend silently weeping. Sadly, this isn't Dr Who's son.
HONNE - Just Dance
The London duo's alt-pop electronica hasn't quite received widespread acclaim, so now they're back with a radio friendly hit that's part Disclosure part Todd Terje: vibrant and funky and summery and fun. It might be a cynical way of widening their appeal, but damn if it isn't working. And that's even with the chorus lyric "there's a kind of sweetness oozing out of you". Eugh.
Four Tet - Two Thousand And Seventeen
The indie blogs are already getting excited about this track being the precursor to a new album later this year. Meanwhile I'm still mesmerised by this song's plaintive, quietly mournful beauty. The dulcimer melody sends tingles down the spine among a whirling soundscape that's like relaxing in a calming crystalline pool. Stunning.
James Hype feat. Kelli-Leigh - More Than Friends
Can everyone stop ruining old classics please?
