Claire - Games

German quintet Claire are the next in a long line of acts putting a singer/songwriter edge on European dancepop. With their debut single "Games", a convincingly cracked British accent from lead singer Josie Claire carries a sultry pop melody over a sugary Balearic dance backdrop. A male and female vocal duet towards the end, bringing to mind both Mausi and Friendly Fires at once, and the track is a perfect love song to lazy summer afternoons.

The debut EP Broken Promise Land is out in September.

FOR FANS OF: Chloe Howl, Mausi, Friendly Fires

Party Tracks of the Week!

Porter Robinson & Mat Zo - Easy

#EuphoricDance #ProgressiveHouse

After Porter Robinson's almighty "Language" tore it up in 2012, I predict his glorious collaboration with Mat Zo "Easy", will do the same for 2013. Like Daft Punk's "One More Time" but with an even bigger euphoric-drop payoff. 

Chloe Howl - Rumour (Unicorn Kid Remix)

#House #Rave #Chiptune

There's no mistaking a Unicorn Kid Remix, all 90s rave beats, Inner City pianos and occasional chiptune flourishes, and his bonkers but addictive remix of Chloe Howl's "Rumour" delivers on all accounts, like a Inner City's "Good Life" played through a Game Boy soundcard.

Shift K3y - WIggle With It

#Dubstep #Trap #2Step

Shift K3y's modern take on 2 Step takes from Dubstep and Trap, making it probably the coolest music on the planet. Thunderous brass hits and shimmering whining synth take centre stage before dropping to a gritty garage bass and then to a Skrillex-esque wall of synth, before the whole thing starts again. 

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."

Chloe Howl - No Strings

17 year old Chloe Howl is the latest feisty teen girl popstar, with the chirp and adorability of Pixie Lott, but the sharp tongue and dry lyrics of Kate Nash. 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. Her voice shimmers with vulnerability but her words hit hard, with lines like "you don't even know if I'm the right sex do you?" and "let's put this to bed without crawling in your bed" taunting and raising many a suggestive eyebrow.

FOR FANS OF:  Pixie Lott, (old) Kate Nash, Foster The People