DATE ARCHIVES : June 2017

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #13

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A new regular addition to blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past 7 days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more top tunes for your ears. Well, without further ado, here’s #13Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #12. Enjoy the tunes & enjoy the sun!

You can follow me on Spotify here.

Morrissey & Marshall – ‘Hangin Around’

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London-based, Dublin duo Morrissey & Marshall released their second We Rise back in May.

They previewed the record with single ‘She’s Got Love’ – a timeless, immaculately tailored, super catchy slice of and infectious indie-pop – and latest single ‘Hangin Around’, repeats the trick. Bright, cheery and brimming with moments of peculiarity, ‘Hangin Around’ is ’60s psych-pop indebted indie-pop with poptastic pastoral harmonies, enveloped intermittent giddy keys and rumbling riffs. Utterly infectious and irresistible indie-pop. This pair appear to possess an innate ability for crafting incredibly catchy indie-pop, and long may it continue.

Get acquainted with ‘Hangin Around’ and video below, meanwhile if that floats your metaphorical boat, Morrissey & Marshall’s latest LP is here. It’s a joy!

Safetalk – ‘Universal (Ténéré Remix)’

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Back in March Anglo-French trio Safetalk introduced themselves with their debut release, a cosmic hymn to the ‘Universal’.

The continental trio have followed this first transmission of lush electronic-pop with a remix package; comprised of three wonderful and wildly imaginative remixes from JeanGa and George, Posthuman & Ténéré. Pick of the pile comes French artist Ténéré, who’s re-imagining of ‘Universal’ takes a more meditative approach, delivering an atmospheric take on the track that would be equally comfortable late at night or early in the morning, as dawn unfolds. It, like the original, is a blissed-out love letter of uplifting positivity, gently building until a warm rapture envelopes you and everything else around you. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

Listen to Ténéré’s take on ‘Universal’ below. You can listen to the full remix package here.

Sorcha Richardson – ‘4AM’

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While I might be a later arrival to Sorcha Richardson, the Dublin-born, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter has been carving quite a name for herself with a series of gorgeous slices of guitar pop.

Richardson’s latest single ‘4AM’ is nothing short of phenomenal. While this brooding, late-night anthem marks a significant sonic evolution, Richardson’s vocals and captivating storytelling remains front and centre. The track revolves around a contrast between sweetness and harsher production, as Richardson’s vocals teeter above booming piano, dizzying synths and antagonistic bass. A pensive, introspective and captivating cut with a hazy late night vibe (and the conversational chronicling also brings to mind Kate Tempest).

Better late than never, yeah? In fact my better half is responsible for putting me on to Richardson’s beguiling sounds; she’s got good taste obviously.

Listen to ‘4AM’ below. It does not disappoint.

Justina Shandler – ‘Creature’

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‘Creature’ is the brand new single from Miami-based singer-songwriter Justina Shandler.

Between studies and work, Shandler spends whatever spare time she can find, penning music for her forthcoming album. Such is the stunning nature of ‘Creature’, one can only hope that it is a taste of things to come. Joined by Gene Knific, and Jackson Firlik, it is a potent song of enigmatic beauty. The striking vocal delivery sounds both wise and beautiful, imbued with a striking level of touching emotion. ‘Creature’ intricately weaves between the bright and dark, exquisite arrangements including cello, banjo, acoustic piano, and electronics, which swells to climax with an all consuming finale. Undoubtedly the power and purity of Shandler’s vocal is the undeniable focal point but the music too, is beautiful. She’s got such a knack for drawing out emotion without overcooking the song with flickering moments of warmth amid the haunting shadows.

Listen to the enchanting and entrancing ‘Creature’ below. Purchase it here.

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #12

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A new regular addition to blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past 7 days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more top tunes for your ears. Well, without further ado, here’s #12. Enjoy the tunes & enjoy the sun!

You can follow me on Spotify here.

Introducing: Best Friend

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Best Friend are a production trio from London, who slice up old 12 inches and Youtube videos and reassemble them into summery, soulful chill hop beats.

The trio’s taste for epic cut and pasting takes us on a gorgeous, colourful and sampladelic adventure. Our intrepid excursion begins with their new record Weekend With Best Friend; a sample-driven gem with scenic production and a hazy, tranquil vibe fit to lift the spirits of even the most glum among us. ‘Spotlight’ is a lavish, cool and irresistible blend of hip hop beats and slick, shimmering samples, leaving us in a state of blissful relaxation. ‘Colourful’ meanwhile marries a beautiful vocal with dazzling flourishes of glistening strings and gentle percussion for a wonderfully hypnotic feel. Throughout Weekend With Best Friend, the trio explore a world of genres, styles and eras to serve up a record which manages a real sense of familiarity without having heard it before – and all done with immense skill, style and substance.

Check out ‘Spotlight’ & ‘Colourful’ below & the full record is available here. This production trio are definitely ones to watch – keep tabs!

XMELT – ‘We Won’t Go Back’

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Created the day after the verdict of the 2016 US election, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ is a raucous, rock and roll anthem of defiance.

The creators, XMELT (the ‘X’ is silent) are Portland all-female punk trio of Jen Neitzel, Tonya Breaux and Tuesday Teal, who have no problem kicking up a rock and roll storm. Their new single ‘We Won’t Go Back’ represents a feeling of angst and a need to fightback for liberties under present US political administration.This political manifestation is done in the best way possible; with explosive guitar, meaty chords, powerful vocals and wild drums, with a double kick bass drum. Angry, assertive, raspy and pumped, and of course very importantly, rockin’.

XMELT are currently working on their debut LP but for now, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ should satisfy your need for a rock and roll thunderbolt. Tune in below.

Introducing: Miles Dismond

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For those of us who fell head over heals for the hazy psychedelia of Lonerism-era Tame Impala, Miles Dismond is a name definitely worth getting acquainted with.

Miles Dismond is a DIY singer/songwriter based out of Berkeley, CA, whose sound lands somewhere between the lo-fi psych-pop of Ariel Pink and hazy psychedelia of early Tame Impala. Having release an 6-track record last year, Dismond has a new album Girl in the Window on the horizon. Latest single, ‘She Doesn’t Care At All’ demonstrates Dismond at his mesmerising best. It is hypnotic from the off, as the track’s title is repeated over washed-out synth, frazzled electronics, fuzzy droning guitar and eerie vocals meeting every melodic turn or rhythmic surge as ‘She Doesn’t Care At All’ spirals into a stunning colourful climax. Previous single ‘She’s In My Head’ continues the proliferation of the spaced-out psych vibes, with an added dose of sunshine and slinking, super smooth groove. A beautiful blend of sunshine vibes, psych tones, fuzz and meandering melodic sensibilities; Miles Dismond is a name to remember.

Listen to ‘She Doesn’t Care At All’ & ‘She’s In My Head’ below, and keep those eyes peeled for details of his forthcoming LP. His previous record is available here.

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #11

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A new regular addition to blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past 7 days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more top tunes for your ears. Well, without further ado, here’s #11. Enjoy the tunes & enjoy the sun!

You can follow me on Spotify here.