The Knocks - Modern Hearts (feat. St Lucia) #Dance #Euro #Indie Gloriously uplifting indie dance from these guilty pleasure connoisseurs with the lush St Lucia adding an irresistible 80s new wave vocal.
Laidback Luke - Pogo (feat. Majestic (Congorock Edit)
#Hardstyle #Electro
The craziest mix of a lot of crazy mixes of this crazy hard electro anthem. This mix doesn't so much encourage "jumping on a Pogo" as bash you over the head with said Pogo repeatedly with each merciless overdriven kick.
L.A. Leakers - Do It (feat. Problem & Jahlil Beats)
#HipHop #Rap #FREEDOWNLOAD
Like a slightly more eager version of "Rack City Bitch", Problem drawls his horny teenager flow over a sickeningly money-hungry beat. Download this one for free on soundcloud below:
Loadstar - Distance (feat. Lloyd Yates)
#DnB #Dubstep #Breakbeat
Taking the gravelly male vocal trend to new heights, the flat-out rabid vocal of Lloyd Yates wrenches every inch of emotion out of this unhinged and apocalyptic Drum & Bass track, a highlight from Loadstar's volcanic and brilliant "Future Perfect" album.
"Random Access Memories" is a great Daft Punk album, there's no denying, but it requires some seriously dedicated vibing in order to make it through the mid-tempo disco marathon in one go. Tucked away at the end of the record comes a subtle but effective relief however. "Doin' It Right" is "RAM"'s "Face to Face"; the dark horse of the album, one that begs multiple plays outside of the context of the record. Uncharacteristically sparse, the song is held together almost entirely by an irresistible vocodor hook and Panda Bear's performance. It's the most effective guest spot on the album, purely because the Animal Collective vocalist's delirious and euphoric vocal adds a human edge to an otherwise quirky and robotic record. FOR FANS OF: Animal Collective, Matt & Kim... but primarily Daft Punk.
Jay Fay - Dibby Dibby (FREE DOWNLOAD) #Moombahton #EDM #FreeDownload A crazy Dillon Francis-esque earthquake of a tune, with the funkiest electronic squelch of a bassline at the drop.
Grandtheft - Hear This (feat. Deejay Theory) #Rave #Jungle #MajorLazer From jungle to dancehall to a misleading 90s house breakdown before all hell breaks loose in a way that would make Major Lazer proud.
A.W.E - YYY #Dubstep #Trap #Synth Following in the footsteps of Melodic Dubstep and Trap pioneers Rustie and TNGHT comes the most colourful and ambitious Trap-influenced act yet. "YYY" bursts with eurodance synth chords, burbling breakdown arpeggios and vangelis synth leads over a Rustie-esque rough-around-the-edges Trappy beat.
In the wake of a distinctly difficult new The Knife album, it's good to know that there are plenty of Swedes on their tail that still want to make a good old fashioned quirky pop song. A defiant, percussive Niki & The Dove-esque march drives the track, and the chorus is anthemic in a way that many Swedes shy away from. As Kate Boy themselves cry out in the song "it's just the way we are!" and let's hope this USP helps their rise and rise out of the shadow of their Swedish pop god predecessors and peers. FOR FANS OF: The Knife, Niki & The Dove, MS MR
The sudden surge of subdued, soulful singers in the wake of Jessie Ware's success is surely no coincidence, but more often than not, these singers rise to the challenge. The American Banks has a very British tinge to her warm, subtley aching voice, and Oxford dance prodigy TEED tones down the synthpop to create a shimmering and sparse post-R&B soundscape for Banks to vibe over. The toneful is thoughtful and chilled, and as Banks' sings "I think I may love you if you give me some time", it feels like it's not just Banks herself on the verge of something great in the song, but also in her rise to success. It is a joy that we live in an time where subtlety is valued in R&B, and may Jessie Ware have many more protegees to follow. FOR FANS OF: Jessie Ware, Delilah, Snakehips
Avec - Disappearer (feat. Jake Shears) #House #Disco Two deep house DJs, Doorly & Shadow Child, come together to make something shamelessly camp and insanely addictive. 90s piano house, gibberish vocals and a whole load of glitter.
DJ Fresh vs Diplo - Earthquake (feat. Dominique Young Unique) #HipHop #Trap The distinct blitz sirens of "Earthquake" have made the rounds already this year. First heard as the backing track of Angel Haze's middling Azealia Banks diss, then Diplo starts dropping it as an instrumental during sets, and now the track finally officially drops with a more tribal feel, more drums, and the cheeky, energetic DYU providing MC duties without attempting to do battle with the track's unrelenting stomp.
T.E.E.D. - Your Love (Fake Blood Remix) #House #Rave #Electro One of the dance anthems of 2012 with a typically weird refix from electrohead Fake Blood. Vocal samples dance drunkenly around, kick drums stumble over each other and a series of filthy basslines battle it out. The track retains it's euphoria, but in an altogether darker, more apocalyptic context.
Naughty Boy - La La La (feat. Sam Smith) (DEvolution Remix) #House #Garage DEvolution turn this slightly mediocre big beat number into something approaching the glory of "Latch". Turning their faders to "Disclosure", the duo bring sharp beats and addictive synths to "La La La" resulting in one of the best house tracks of the year so far.
Artful Dodger - No I Turn You On (feat. Zoe Krypi) (Disclosure Remix) #House #Garage Yet another version of this, with Zoe Krypi bringing a female perspective to this remixed classic garage anthem, chucking some irresistible husky vocal hooks over the top, and all of a sudden it's diva friendly.
Sin Diesel - Bum Bum (Jesse Slayter) (FREE DOWNLOAD) #Moombahton #Trap I can't keep away. More rabid sirens, but this time over a ridiculously cartoony vocal sample and a jittery moombahton beat. It's free, so go on, indulge in some mindless rave.
Kento - Complicated (Prince Persona Remix) #Rave #Chiptune #Dance Looks like it's not just Unicorn Kid holding the 16-bit 90s rave torch. The hyperactive, colourful London producer Prince Persona turns electropop singer Kento's latest single into a garish 6 minutes of speedy distorted beats and bright neon synths, for widened pupils everywhere.
MS MR are one of the more subtle female fronted bands of the last couple of years, choosing a Florence-esque majesty over the all out synth onslaught of acts like CHVRCHES and Charli XCX. But every subtle song has an unexplored jubilant side, and the brilliant CHVRCHESsmother "Hurricane" with 80s new wave electro, right down to its ridiculously authentic sampled snare drum. Whilst MS MR only predicted an oncoming storm in their original song, CHVRCHES bring the 80s synthpop tremors with panache.
FOR FANS OF: Hot Chip, Passion Pit, CHVRCHES (obviously)
After 4 years of silence from the reliably classy Norwegian popstress, Annie returns with "Tube Stops And Lonely Hearts", an unusual yet strangely addictive stop/start dance number that takes generously from her Europop roots, with hints of 80s and 90s revival that ensure Annie's twinkle-twinkle-little-star croon translates effortlessly into the 2010s pop scene. CHVRCHES, Purity Ring et al better keep an eye on Annie, she might just be biding her time to reclaim her europop throne. FOR FANS OF: Charli XCX, Saint Etienne, Grimes
New York's My Plastic Sun have many strings to their Progressive Rock bow, and they pluck each one with just as much finesse as the last. "Give It All Away" was a hauntingly beautiful debut, "Silicon Junkie" showcased their psychedelic side, "Caught In A Wave" hinted at new wave, and now "We Run From No One" takes that anthemic edge, and pulls out all the stops. Now a four-piece, the band's sound is more textured and epic than ever. Lead guitars soar, huge rock band harmonies abound, and the chorus is a behemoth. Covering more musical ground in their 2 years than some establish bands manage in 10, My Plastic Sun are so ahead of the game they don't even need to play it.
FOR FANS OF: The Temper Trap, Blackfield, Kings of Leon
Loadstar - Refuse to Love #Drum&Bass #RAMRecords One of RAM Records finest singles of the year, Loadstar's pulsating "Refuse To Love" rivals Chase & Status at their peak. Dark yet anthemic, and unrelenting. Monsta - The MONSTA (FREE DOWNLOAD)
#Trap #Dubstep
A track as crazy as "The MONSTA" would be the crown jewel of many a dubstep or trap DJs, but for a group as benchmark-setting as Monsta, this is just a throwaway free download. Every weird trap and dub trick in the book, chucked into one surreal yet addictive tune.
Karma Kid - In My Arms (FREE DOWNLOAD)
#House #Garage #Summer
A sunnier tune you are unlikely to hear this summer. Somewhere between deep house and a juicy Hed Kandi tune, Karma Kid manages to create something ultra credible and yet totally joyful.
San Cisco are an indiepop band from Victoria, Australia. Best known for their teenage obsession anthem “Awkward”, the band are currently supporting the equally chirpy Darwin Deez on his European and UK tour. Fans of colourful, multi-instrumental indie rock bands like Stornoway and The Coral would be doing themselves a disservice not to check the band out.
This has not been the best couple of days for the Aussie indiepoppers. They found their van, er, vandalized the morning of their Darwin Deez support slot at London's Shepherds Bush Academy on Thursday night. Nevertheless, the band gave an energetic, joyous warm-up for Darwin Deez, and I caught up with lead singer and guitarist Jordi, drummer and singer Scarlett and guitarist/keyboardist Josh the morning after (bassist and keyboardist Nick was running late), hoping to catch them in a better mood.
First of all, sorry to hear about your Van yesterday? I don't suppose you fancy reiterating the story for me...?
Jordi: Tell it Scarlett.
Scarlett: We got up for our 9am lobby call, walked to the car, and saw that we'd been broken into and there was shit everywhere.
Was anything stolen?
Scarlett: Just the GPS. Somehow we worked out that the guy must've got stuck in the boot, tried to cut his way out with a knife he found in Jordi's guitar case, bled everywhere...
Jordi: Obviously I keep knives in my guitar case.
Scarlett: Police said it was the easiest crime scene they'd had in ages.
On to happier things, how did you guys all meet and eventually form the band?
Scarlett: (gesturing Josh and Jordi) These guys met in school, but I knew Jordi from when we were quite young.
What's the story behind the name? I'm guessing it's got something to do with San FRANCisco...
Jordi: No, it's got nothing to do with San Francisco. We actually got it from a Ouija board.
Josh: Did we?
Do you guys believe in all that stuff?
Scarlett: I'm probably more prone to believe it than these guys.
Do you think whoever it was you'd reach was probably trying to say "San Francisco", but didn't have enough time?
All: Yes!
Scarlett: We were asking where someone's school teacher had died.
Well that's a lot more morbid than your music lets on! After you formed, how quickly did you start touring?
Scarlett: Not very. We played our first show at the beginning of 2009, but we didn't do a proper tour until the end of 2011. It hasn't been an immediate success story.
Well, it's certainly turning into one now. You've supported the Vaccines in America, and now Darwin Deez in Europe and the UK. How have the two band's fans been with you outside of Australia? I caught your set last night, and the crowd certainly seemed very enthusiastic.
Jordi: We've got very similar fans I think. At the Vaccines show there were lots of people that knew us, which was really cool.
Scarlett: We haven't had a tour yet where we haven't gelled with the other band.
You have a very British indie sound to my ears. Is UK indie rock something you take a lot of influence from, or is there a big scene in Australia?
Jordi: I really like the Arctic Monkeys and Alex Turner.
Scarlett: I would've thought we were more influenced by American bands like MGMT. That kind of pop, psychedelic sound. The last MGMT album, "Congratulations", was pretty influential.
Jordi: Some people knock it, but I really like that album.
Josh: It's got that beach vibe.
Do you listen to much 60s pop music?
Scarlett: Yeah definitely. The Mamas and The Papas!
Josh, you and Nick seem to jump from instrument to instrument on stage, do you plan to incorporate even more eclectic instruments in the future?
Josh: I would love a mellotron.
Scarlett: There's just so many constraints on what you can bring on tour.
Would you take extra instrumentalists on tour with you if you could?
Scarlett: I think you ruin the synergy by bringing in another member who hasn't been there from the beginning. We had another guy playing with us once but...
Jordi: ...but he was a druggie.
Scarlett: I think it works for you if you're this massive band and you've got an amazing repertoire.
You've released a fair few EPs over the last couple of years, do you have a full length record coming out soon?
Jordi: We've released one in Australia, but it'll be out here over summer, though there's no set date just yet.
Your singles are all quite colourful, quite indie pop. Are there going to be any surprises on the album?
Jordi: I think there's a few darker tunes. I think that's something we wanted to do with the album, to show a deeper side to our songwriting. So there's some quieter tunes, some darker tunes...The album's a bit more of a mixed bag to what the singles are.
When you started writing, did you just want to write two minute ditties?
Jordi: No, the other way round.
Scarlett: From the start, we've always wrote deep meaningful songs, and then "Awkward" just sort of came round in the middle of our career and shook things up. People think that it’s definitive of our career, when it's not really.
Jordi and Scarlett, you share most vocal duties, do you also share writing duties?
Scarlett: No, that's these two. (gestures to Josh and Jordi)
Are all your lyrics written from personal experiences?
Jordi: Half the time they are, the other half it's from observing others, or even just making some up.
Obviously "Awkward" is about a boy who can't take the hint...
Scarlett: (Interrupts gleefully) Yes! You get it! Everything thinks it's about me and Jordi dating!
What's the dog about in the video by the way? About halfway though there's a split second shot of a dog...with an erection?
(Whole band groans.)
Jordi: That's Scarlett's Dad's* fault. He's in love with that dog, he just wanted to put it in the video for no point at all.
Scarlett: We were gonna have a horse in there, we were going to have loads of animals...
Jordi: ...but the horse got scared.
(*Scarlett's Dad is the band's manager)
So what else does 2013 have in store for San Cisco?
Jordi: We have an Australian tour when we go home, then we'll have 3 weeks off, which will be the longest time we've had off this year, then we're off to America and Europe again! After that I'm not sure exactly what we're doing, but just lots of touring and not much time off, although hopefully we're doing a few Australian festivals.
Are you playing any festivals outside of Australia?
Jordi: We're playing Lollapalooza in Chicago.
Scarlett: There might be one in, ummm... (trails off, then whispers) ...it's top secret!
Did you play any festivals last year?
Jordi: We did a few in Australia.
Scarlett: We played Groove In The Moon, that was awesome, Fool's Fest... We also played in a nature park outside of Amsterdam!
Did you have animals invading the stage? In fact, did you have that dog onstage?
Scarlett: If our manager was here, he'd be like "That's a great idea! Get the dog onstage!"
So I left having solved the mystery of the randy dog in the “Awkward” video, and thoroughly charmed by the laid back aussies. And if last night’s set is anything to go by, there will be nothing awkward about San Cisco’s success story from here on out. Check out the band’s latest single “Fred Astaire” below, and keep an eye on the band’s Official Website for upcoming details on tour dates and their debut album.
Jumping on the garage bandwagon seems like a fairly smart move for a young singer in 2013, and it also seems like a better idea to be a solo artist than a band. Two steps Little Nikki has smartly taken. Given the disintegration of SoundGirl, the last act Little Nikki was (prominently) part of, she brings a little bit of girl band sugar 'n' sheen to an ultra retro garage sound, one that stands out due to its tropical flourishes and unusual melodies. If her debut single "Intro Intro" showcased Nikki going hard, "Where I'm Coming From" shows her more sultry side, and an acrobatic vocal reminiscent of Katy B. The music's not far off either.
In the wake of James Blake's warm, soulful and cautiously vulnerable second record, 18 year old singer/songwriter Jamie Isaac follows eagerly in his footsteps. "Softly Draining Seas" is led by heartbreaking, shimmering piano chords, immersed in distant voiceless wails and gentle pads, as Jamie's milky voice voice soothes and caresses. Whilst James Blake's voice cracks with hidden sorrow and defeated melancholy, the young Jamie Isaac sings with an air of innocence, peacefulness and even a trace of hope. If James Blake is the companion of electronic melancholia, Jamie Isaac is the antidote. FOR FANS OF: James Blake, London Grammar, Bon Iver
10 "Baby" feat. MNEK & Sinead Harnett Rudimental Rudimental's colourful debut admirably showcases their many trend-hopping sounds, and "Baby" is a particular highlight, its soulful 90s house twice as addictive for the delicious, flamboyant vocal of teen prodigy MNEK and the sweet, sultry tones of the reliable Sinead Harnett. 9 "That's the Way Love Goes" (Janet Jackson Cover/"MNEK Refix") MNEK 2013 is surely MNEK's year, featuring multiple times on Rudimental's debut, on two of the record's best tracks, which owe no small debt to his strong presence and shamelessly camp vocal flourishes. Taking on a Janet Jackson track is surely a recipe for disaster for most artists, but MNEK somehow emulates and enhances the effortless groove of the original, replacing the breathless sexiness with an altogether more funky vibe, a heavy rhythm section led by a pounding bassline allowing MNEK to bring his trademark melodrama in full force. 8 "Kurt Cobain" Amplify Dot "Live Fast, Die Young like Kurt Cobain" goes the main hook of this slick hip hop number from UK female rapper newcomer Amplify Dot, and her cocky flow combined with a snake charmer synth and crushing kick drum provide a convincing case, as least for a Friday night. PARTY TRACK OF THE WEEK 19/04/13. 7 "Jet Blue Jet" feat. Leftside, GTA, Razz & Biggy Major Lazer The crazy carnival vibe of Major Lazer's entire "Free The Universe" record is easily surmised by this crazy supernova of a tune. On "Jet Blue Jet", chopped up vocals ricochet off the walls, sirens screech and beats pound - as if we even needed reminding of the fact that in a cliquey worldwide underground dance scene, Major Lazer run the show. PARTY TRACK OF THE WEEK 19/04/13. 6 "What I Like" Charli XCX Despite a slightly less immediate debut album than we could've hoped for - (I'm all for artistic integrity, but if Charli XCX wants to be on the same self-expressive, unfriendly-pop level as Grimes she shouldn't have tunes as mindnumbingly addictive as "You (Ha Ha Ha)" or "Nuclear Seasons") - Charli has thrown us another bone with latest single and album highlight "What I Like". More "London-Del-Rey" than ever, this is "Video Games" for the tumblr generation. "Your t-shirts on the floor, yea we're undressing in my house again" Charli carelessly murmers, and when she whispers "this shit is super cool", she's bizarrely convincing. 5 "Aftermath" SZA "I am made of bacon" is surely the most "did I just hear that right?" line ever heard in a song this pretty. Despite the smooth, gorgeous cloudlite vibes of the Glo'n'B production, there is a strange melancholy that the tastefully reserved SZA seems to withhold in this strange and beautiful track, which seems to be the polar opposite to the cool, razor sharp eerieness of "Ice Moon". Forceful on "Ice Moon" ("show me the way to your hiding place... go to church if you're scared"), here, SZA is infinitely more vulnerable and open, declaring "I want to be kidnapped". 4 "White Noise" (Disclosure Cover/"MNEK Refix") (Full Crate & FS Green Remix) MNEK Tearing it up on this infectious 90s-flecked remix of his rework/cover of Disclosure & AlunaGeorge's recent hit (description and a half no?), MNEK soulfully trills his way around this sexy, bright cover as the retro house beats go hard. Shivers moment? 3.44 as MNEK goes all Mariah Carey on the track, to euphoric effect. PARTY TRACK OF THE WEEK 04/04/13. 3 "Glow" IYES GIVEPOPACHANCE SAID... "Taking from their peers The 1975 and Chvrches, the band mix euphoric electronic flourishes with an anthemic indie mindset." READ MORE. 2 "Hypolight" Mt. Wolf GIVEPOPACHANCE SAID... "...as pianos and guitars mingle in the background, it's a joy to hear a voice soar above the musical tapestry, rather than be content to be just another instrument. More steps in this direction, and Mt. Wolf are real contenders." READ MORE. 1 "On & On" Snakehips GIVEPOPACHANCE SAID... "The electronica-flecked R&B of "On & On" has the cool demeanor of aJessie Ware track, with the subtle, addictive funk that London neighboursBondaxhave made a name for themselves in." READ MORE.
