Popdar: Best New Music - 06/08

Another moderate quality music drought this week, thank you very much Olympics (!), but there are, as always, some proper finds if you look hard for them.

AALIYAH - ENOUGH SAID (FEAT. DRAKE)

Not quite a hologram, but hearing Aaliyah's silky and insanely sexy voice matched with Drake's producer 40's thick, ambient, bass heavy production in 2012 is something undeniably quite wonderful. It's almost a shame when Drake turns up, Aaliyah's voice is that show stopping, from the irresistible string of "yeah"s that make up the songs focal hook to her heavenly, fragile ad libs. Nevertheless, Drake is full on 'Take Care'-reflective here in his verse, and although he's upstaged by the late diva, they make a strangely apt pairing, the song playing like a hazy dream, in which Aaliyah is still alive and producing beautiful music, and Drake wakes in the morning, rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to recall what he just dreamt.

For fans of: The Weeknd, everyone involved with the track.

 Aaliyah - "Enough Said" (feat. Drake) by FUTURESOUND / BGR

AYLEN & D!RTY AUDIO - DIFFERENT CITIES (FEAT. JITTA ON THE TRACK)
FREE DOWNLOAD ON SOUNDCLOUD

Thanks to @poundpoundpound's INSANE moombahton mix last week on www.moombaplus.com radio, I came across this filthy, untamable monster of a track. A thunderous kick beats sparsely, as a string of rapid deadmau5 chords build to a crescendo before dropping into beautiful chaos, the rabid lead flailing and foaming at the mouth.

For fans of: Knife Party, Diplo, DIRTY Moombahton.

 D!RTY AUD!O x Aylen feat. Jitta On The Track - Different Cities (Original Mix) by D!RTY AUD!O

BEAT CONNECTION - THE PALACE GARDEN
ALBUM OUT NOW

After last year's blissfully euphoric slice of balearica that was Beat Connection's debut EP Surf Noir, the chillwavers are back with their first full length record. Whilst nothing here quite matches the sheer sunkissed splendour of "In The Water" or "Theme From Yours Truly", the band have found a comfortable niche between Friendly Fires and Washed Out, with tracks like "Palace Garden, 4am" and "Further Out" oozing chilled poolside party charm with their deep, funky basslines and some delicious steel pans flourishes. "Think Feel" stands out however, with the subtly steamy vocals of Chelsey Scheffe perfectly complimenting the track's dark xx-tinged synthpop.

For fans of: Friendly Fires, Washed Out, The xx.

 Think/Feel by Beat Connection

KISSES - FUNNY HEARTBEAT
SINGLE OUT NOW

More summer fun in Kisses's new single. Whilst not quite topping their stunning debut single "Bermuda" or its beautiful follow up "People Can Do The Most Amazing of Things", the summery indiepoppers gain points for the sheer effortlessness in which the laid back optimism gleams from this track, in which two lovely chords loop round and round beneath a driving beat and shooting star synths. Twee in the extreme, and unashamedly so.

For fans of: Fun, The Cure, The Smiths.

 Funny Heartbeat by Kisses

NE-YO - LET ME LOVE YOU (UNTIL YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF)
SINGLE OUT NOW

After guesting on Calvin Harris' functional but unambitious "Let's Go" not so long ago, it's predictable that Ne-Yo would continue with this direction in his solo material. However, when a big dance production is paired with the saccharine emotional piano led chord sequence and overwrought melodies that Ne-Yo so often brings to the table in his solo work, "Let Me Love You" ends up being a surprising pop triumph. Melodramatic yes, cheesy yes, but oh so, OH SO catchy and unfairly uplifting. Makes one grin like a buffoon.

For fans of: This kind of chart pop shit.

 "Let Me Love You" - NE-YO by Neyo Red

REDLIGHT - LOST IN YOUR LOVE
SINGLE OUT NOW

Continuing in the 90s dance mould of Redlight's last smash "Get Out My Head", "Lost In Your Love" is more commercial with its piano house intentions, with flecks of decade old funky house combined with a very current ravepop sound.

For fans of: Calvin Harris, Funky House.

 REDLIGHT ‘LOST IN YOUR LOVE’ – ANNIE MAC SPECIAL DELIVERY, RADIO 1 by Redlight UK

TEENGIRL FANTASY - EFX (FEAT. KELELA)
SINGLE OUT NOW

Quirky bass/synth/whateverpop act Teengirl Fantasy, thus far known for icy synth house tracks such as "Motif", have taken a slight detour via the new wave of US dark'n'B ala Drake and The Weeknd, and it's a delightfully weird middle ground between the bajan pop vibes of old Rihanna and difficult but gorgeous swedish pop like The Knife and Niki & The Dove.

For fans of: Rihanna, The Knife, Niki & The Dove.

 EFX ft. Kelela by Teengirl Fantasy

WILD NOTHING - PARADISE
ALBUM "NOCTURNE" OUT 27/08

After the shoegazery new wave of their debut "Gemini", Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is looking to be a tad more anthemic, if second preview track "Paradise" is anything to go by. First single "Shadow" was earthier and lovelier than anything off "Gemini", with its Fleetwood Mac 70s rock demeanor and a majestic lead melody, but "Paradise" is an even further step into the epicsphere. Five and a half minutes pass without much happening, but each melody that introduces itself is a beautiful revelation. A jangly lead guitar and feathery flute melody provide enough musical joy between them than was heard on the entire of (the still quite enjoyable) "Gemini", and the brief vocal refrain is subtle but effortlessly grand. It is however the two and a half minute breakdown, carried on three gorgeous chords, that truly makes the track, giving it its warm, welcoming heart. When the whole band kicks back in for the final minute, it is one of the most joyous moments in pop music this year.

For fans of: The Radio Dept, The Cure, JJ.

 Wild Nothing // "Paradise" by capturedtracks

THE 1975 - THE CITY
"FACEDOWN" EP OUT NOW

To finish, a grand pop rock anthem, with a gritty heart that The Script et al could never hope to touch. A massive britpop beat meets a truly anthemic wall of distorted bass and waves of guitar, as the singer announces triumphantly in the chorus "if you wanna find out you know where the city is". An uplifting move-to-the-city anthem with an aftertaste of rebellion.

For fans of: The Big Pink, Bloc Party, White Lies.

 The City by the1975