The Glaswegian trio's next album is shaping up to be more of a polished version of their existing sound than any kind of reinvention. They've moved stateside, enlisted producer Greg Kurstin, and stretched their sound widescreen. With Never Say Die the result is one of their best tracks: the fizzing pulsing synths, its hypnotic crescendoes, that yearning "didn't you say that?" hook. It's heavy and bold and memorable and everything we could want from a Chvrches track.
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Kylie - Raining Glitter
Raining Glitter is about the most Kylie sounding name for a track as you can get. She clearly understands her target audience, that's for sure. Except this might just be one of the best tracks she's done since Love At First Sight. The melodies are tinged with nostalgia, the fingerpicked guitars are a more subtle implementation of her new country sound than Dancing, and the occasional "woop!"adds girlish glee. This is Kylie at her most carefree and fun and she's all the better for it.
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MØ - Nostalgia
"I remember the first time I was in love," sings MØ at the start of Nostalgia, lyrics spilling out like a story over sparse beats. Though she's worked with dance producers in the past, this is the most club-friendly of MØ's solo tracks with its tropical tinged beat and Latin flavours, mixing those nostalgic lyrics with a cleverly contemporary sound. If Lean On was song of the summer in 2015, Nostalgia is destined to do the same this year.
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Zak Abel - Love Song
Abel is still yet to release a true breakthrough single and this won't change things. The vocals sound like a bad John Newman impression, the production reminiscent of 'Strickland Banks' era Plan B. The result is dated, dull, and does little to showcase Abel's own sound or personality.
Don't bother.
James Bay - Us
The release of Wild Love revealed a new James Bay, one who's been brushing up on his electronic R&B. But it's clear that he doesn't want to upset fans of his previous music. Enter Us, a boring track seemingly ripped from his last album. It makes you wish he had the gall to rip up the past and throw himself wholeheartedly into the new sound.
Don't bother.
Sigrid - I Don't Want To Know
This new track from the Norwegian singer proves that she has a soft side after all. After the fierce power of her previous releases, this is a mournful ballad in which her heart is broken. "When you had the choice you chose someone else,"she repeats with utter dejection, her voice cracking in the higher registers over gentle piano and guitar arpeggios softened with a wash of synths and strings. Is there anything she can't do?
Worth a listen.
Rich The Kid feat. Khalid - Too Gone
Rapper Rich The Kid has partnered with plenty of high profile artists as the release of his debut album 'The World Is Yours' can attest to: Kendrick Lamar, Future, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne all feature. Too Gone features another rising star, Khalid, for a smooth and futuristic track about getting high - the hypnotic production follows suit.
Worth a listen.
Digital Farm Animals, Shaun Frank & Dragonette - Tokyo Nights
This is just a delicious piece of euphoric dance-pop, with talent from Britain and Canada teaming up to sing about Japan. It's like a burst of fizzing neon with, fittingly, a hint of M83's Midnight City.
Worth a listen.
