Zedd & Maren Morris & Grey - The Middle
Zedd had a surprise hit early last year with Stay featuring Alessia Cara. With The Middle he's attempting the same thing almost exactly: female vocalist, vocoder harmonies, choppy production. It's an enjoyable track but it's unlikely to hit the same heights.
Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapleton - Say Something
Another week, another rubbish new Timberlake song. His search for authenticity here manifests as singing trite lyrics over an acoustic guitar. It is, quite simply, boring.
George FitzGerald feat. Lil Silva - Roll Back
This is one of those songs that slowly creeps up on you. Synths buzz hypnotically, delicate falsetto vocals quiver, and once the beat kicks in you know you're utterly captivated. Roll Back is the first single from forthcoming second album 'All That Must Be' - keep an eye out in March.
Julia Michaels - Heaven
Julia Michaels is better than this. The chorus lyric, "all good boys go to heaven but bad boys bring heaven to you", is a clever spin on the Fifty Shades theme, but it remains a lazy movie tie-in. Go listen to Clean Bandit's I Miss You instead.
James Blake - If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead
James Blake works in mesmerising minimalism. That's certainly true here, each line of the texture meticulously placed within a vacuum of space. The vocal is cleverly chopped up and processed into new melodies and rhythms, but it's also relentless and eventually becomes too much. Ironically, a little more minimalism here would've gone a long way.
Topic & Ally Brooke - Perfect
This is the second solo venture from Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke. German producer Topic has crafted an addictive chorus beat, but the lyrics sound like a knock-off Jessie J song. A lack of personality means this is unlikely to challenge Camila Cabello as the more successful member of the band.
Thirty Seconds To Mars - Dangerous Night
Dangerous Night is one of the more electronic heavy songs that Thirty Seconds To Mars have done, but there's still a moody emo heart at its core. It's clear that Jared Leto and co. are seeking a more chart-friendly sound, but the main headline is the robotic camera they used for their performance on The Late Show - this is a band carving the future of rock.
Hazers - Drive
Drive is a Chainsmokers-lite generic bop, but the syncopated chorus rhythms make this worth a listen.
ISLAND - Ride
This new track from the London-based indie band has a Temper Trap feel to it, its delayed guitars creating a shimmering waterfall of sound beneath the soulful vocal. The band's debut album 'Feels Like Air' is due in a couple of months and they'll be touring shortly after - Ride sounds like the kind of evocative track that will stun in a live environment. Still, the name is an SEO nightmare.
Tiesto, Gucci Mane, Sevenn - BOOM
Never has a title been so appropriate. I'm not sure I've ever heard a beat so huge.
