TOP 10 SONGS OF JANUARY 2013

10

"Move"

Mausi

A timelessly summery tune straight from the turn of the millennium, mainly thanks to an insanely uplifting, flailing synth lead. Remember Milky's "Just The Way You Are"? It's on par.

9

"No Problems"

Azealia Banks

Whilst Angel Haze's diss to Banks was kind of self-indulgent and overlong, we should be thankful she stirred the pot, because just desserts for Haze are served in the form of "No Problems", in which a rabid hip hop beat courtesy of Machinedrum serves as a platform for Banks at her calmest and most threatening at the same time.

8

"Deathwish"

Bebe Black

The La Roux-esque voice of Benga's "Icon" comes into her own with her debut single. First appearing on the free "Black Lion Sessions" EP last year, the organic and yearning songcraft "Deathwish" is so wonderfully performed by Black that it's hard to imagine it performed by any other singer, no mean feat for an artist's debut single.

7

"Turn Me Out"

Russ Chimes

Euphoric and life-affirming house in the vein of Tensnake, "Coma Cat" for 2013 if you will, this will serve as a highlight for many a summer festival.

6

"You (Ha Ha Ha)"

Charli XCX

GivePopAChance said...

"Taking on a quirky yet more-ish Gold Panda beat, Charli XCX does very little over the top, but it ends up working perfectly... further proof that she is London's answer to Lana Del Rey."

5

"No Strings"

Chloe Howl

GivePopAChance said...

"The warm and fuzzy indie-synthpop of "No Strings" mimics the bassline from "Pumped Up Kicks" but brings it to a teenage house party, where she tells of a typical 17 year old's battle between lust and love."

4

"Life Size Ghosts (Catching Flies Remix)"

Mt Wolf

GivePopAChance said...

"Catching Flies' take of the track brings the track into darker territory, without sacrificing any of Mt Wolf's cloud-gazing magic."

3

"Can't Handle The Truth"

JoJo

JoJo is fast becoming the female Drake, her latest mixtape being an honest, experimental, catagorically-relaxed half hour, ending in this gorgeous and frank ditty to infidelity from the point of view of the cheater. Just as gorgeous as her cover/response to "Marvin's Room".

2

"In My Arms"

Fryars

GivePopAChange said... 

"The main hook of "In My Arms" jumps playfully into the air with Garratt's gentle falsetto, as a piano hook lumbers humbly in the background, with barely-awake house flair."

1

"Hey Now"

London Grammar

GivePopAChance said...

"London newbies London Grammar bring the year's first classic song, a song thats poignancy and beauty is timeless."

TOP 10 OF AUGUST (Includes Mixtape)

A distinct lack of real summer anthems this month, and in true spirit of the non-summer which seems to have passed us by, the most impressive music this month seemed keener to advance into the colder, darker months.

Listen to my monthly mix below, and then scroll down to read what I have to say about my favourite tracks of the month.



10. Bebe Black - Deathwish
(Taken from 'The Black Lion Sessions' EP)

You may know her as the voice of Benga's 'Icon', but on "Deathwish", Bebe Black reveals a new side to herself as an artist. Unlike her assured swagger on 'Icon', Black's tone is more emotional and desperate here, her higher range recalling the distinct soft-opera of La Roux. She sings hopelessly, with chorus hook "loving you is turning to a deathwish, and there is no way out but this" flirting tragically with self-destruction and low self-esteem. An organic, Flo&TheMo-lite backing track, driven by an addictive, dancy synth piano hook leaves plenty of space for her fragile voice to breathe.

DOWNLOAD 'THE BLACK LION SESSIONS' EP FOR FREE HERE.

9. Teengirl Fantasy - Efx (feat. Kelela)
(Taken from 'Tracer')

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.

8. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
(Single)

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.

7. Noisettes - Winner
(Taken from 'Contact')

After providing two stomping indie dance anthems on their last record, in "Never Forget You" and "Don't Upset The Rhythm", it's good to see them hit right back with a fist-pumping comeback single. Menacing guitars pace the room, the beat stomps aggressively and singer Shingai Shoniwa yells triumphantly "I feel like a winner!", and its an infectious feeling. Effortlessly feel-good and sassy, the Noisettes remind us why there's still a place for them.

6. The 1975 - The City
(Taken from 'Facedown' EP)

When The Big Pink failed to deliver another "Dominos" on their close-but-no-cigar sophomore, it's good to hear the best pop rock anthem that band never wrote, with a gritty heart and emotive delivery. 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.

5. Benga - Pour Your Love (feat. Marlene)
(Taken from 'Chapter 2', release date 29/10)

If anyone misses the 2009/10 days of dubstep's real breakthrough to the mainstream, "Pour Your Love" reminds us just how big a role Benga's work with Magnetic Man and Katy B played. In the same vein as a track like "Katy On A Mission", but twice as big, the pulsating basslines and soaring lead melodies courtesy of superlative featured singer Marlene are truly thrilling in a way that no amount of cliched Skrillex bleeps and bloops could achieve, and is a perfect reminder of how melody in dubstep can be crucial to its longevity and commercial stance. In other words, WHAT a tune.


4. Passion Pit - Constant Conversations (St. Lucia Remix)
(Unofficial Remix)

On Gossamer, the original "Constant Conversations" is earthy and gritty, and sad in a mopy way, despite the beauty of its melancholic, self-reflective subject matter. But New York producer St Lucia had bigger ideas for the track. It's new wavey synth chords and vast reverb catapault the track into the stratosphere, and inject the previously depressive track with a heart-leaping sense of hope, especially once the track finally bursts free at 1:50. The vocal sample sounds epic as opposed to quirky, and that 70s keyboard lead is simply perfectly placed.

DOWNLOAD THE TRACK FOR FREE HERE.

3. Aaliyah - Enough Said (feat. Drake)
(Single)
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.

2. Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments

(Taken from 'Devotion')

On first listen, with its gently distorted heavy handed drum beat, it would be easy to dismiss "Wildest Moments" as a power ballad, but it's much simpler and more elegant than that. There is no musical climax, not much range for Ware to enjoy, but it her effortless, unaffected and beautiful delivery that really allow the words of this understated, yet incredible ballad to resonate and emotionally connect with her listener. She sings calmly of the bittersweet turmoil in her relationship, and despite this calm, her voice shimmers as she sings "we could be the greatest... we could be the worst of all", and what is left unsaid, is said here without words.  When Jessie Ware demonstrates such a powerhouse voice on other tracks, a song like this being a highlight on her incredible debut is nothing short of remarkable.

1. Wild Nothing - Paradise
(Taken from 'Nocturne')

After the shoegazery new wave of their debut Gemini, Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is certainly the stronger, more confident record, and "Paradise" is its restless, romantic heartbeat. Five and a half minutes pass without much changing, 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.

- Joe Copplestone, 30/08/12