If you're sampling Michael Jackson, you're either a sinner or a saint. Drake, thankfully, is the latter. Don't Matter To Me uses a posthumous sample of MJ for its hook, his instantly recognisable falsetto floating over silky smooth beats. It not only marks this track as the most pop-friendly on lengthy new album 'Scorpion', but cements Drake as the biggest artist in the world right now.
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Years & Years - All For You
What made the debut album from Years & Years such a success was its focus on melody, each song layering hook upon hook (King remains their best track for this very reason). The music for forthcoming second album 'Palo Santo' has so far been tied more to its sci-fi concept, the tracks lacking that same infectious nature. All For You changes that, fizzing with up-tempo energy in a rush of euphoric melodies. This is the band back on top form.
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Charli XCX - Focus / No Angel
The previously released 5 In The Morning was more of a woozy curio for Charli XCX, who returns this week with two proper pop tracks. Both continue the PC music trend from mixtape 'Pop 2', all bleeps and bloops and heavily processed beats. Focus is the smoother, more palatable track of the two, but No Angel sees her letting loose her rebellious side with a cheeky wink.
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Pale Waves - Noises
Where The 1975 gave us a disappointing return with Give Yourself A Try, Pale Waves have taken up the mantle of pop-guitar band of the moment. Noises fits neatly in their oeuvre with no surprises, but that funk guitar/wistful melody combo is stadium-worthy.
Worth a listen.
Ina Wroldsen - Mother
Norway's Ina Wroldsen has written a tonne of songs over the last decade for the likes of The Saturdays, One Direction, Demi Lovato, Anne-Marie, Clean Bandit and more, but came to the fore as an artist herself as the writer and singer on How Deep Is Your Love from Calvin Harris and Disciples. She's since been snapped up by Simon Cowell's Syco Music, with new EP 'Hex' as her first major release. It's firmly in cool Scandi-pop territory, but Mother truly stands out for its nostalgic lyrics and otherworldly harmonies.
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