Top 10 Tracks of June 2013.

10
You & I
Crystal Fighters

In characteristically chirpy form, "You & I" has "festival favourite" written all over it, as much as it sounds like there is moss growing on the instruments. A sunny synth hook lifts the track at its climax and it stays at that level of euphoria for its duration.

9
Music Is Life
Elliphant

Something a bit more commercial from our favourite eccentric rasta-Swedish female rapper. It's a bit Gwen Stefani, a bit Nicki Minaj, very 90s and very catchy. Elliphant is the very definition of an artist - she doesn't limit herself to one style of music, because she's lucky enough that whatever she touches will sound like her. Heir to M.I.A?

8
You Changed (feat. Beyonce & Michelle)
Kelly Rowland

"Ladies y'all wanna do it again?" chirps up Beyonce playfully as the ridiculously fun "You've Changed" kicks in. The answer is resolutely yes, and although the "Love On Top" soul/funk swagger of the song suits Ms Carter the best, hearing the three of them lampoon the same man, as three independent strong black woman, rather than the girls of their DC heyday, serves as a much better swansong than the dull "Nuclear".

7
Pendulum
Pure Bathing Culture

A lot of shoegazey dreampop makes the rounds every summer, but Pure Bathing Culture actually live up to their name. Unafraid to be anthemic, the song vaguely recalls Beach House's emotional last two records, but unlike that band, PBC aren't afraid to drop the melancholy altogether, and "Pendulum"'s tapestry of guitars is nothing less than euphoric.

6
Tongues feat. Kopps
Joywave

Bringing some swagger to a Hot Chip-esque disco sound, Joywave's "Tongues" has a jagged electropop beat and a quirky and instantly recognisable vocal hook that has "advert phenomenon" written all over it. There are only a handful of tracks that can boast "indie classic" before time has passed, but this is one track that instantly declares it's here to stay.

5
Help Me Lose My Mind feat. London Grammar
Disclosure

Say what you like about Disclosure, they've got their finger right on the zeitgeist's pulse. 2013 newcomers London Grammar are absurdly talented songwriters with an absurdly talented singer, Hannah Reid. The band released the time-stands-still-while-it-plays ballad "Hey Now" in January, built up a crazy amount of online and underground hype, but not enough to warrant having "made it" (but enough to suggest they probably will), and lo-and-behold, just 6 months later, men of the moment Disclosure have got that ethereal, haunting voice on the closing track of their record. It's a collaboration that luckily benefits them both. Hannah's voice is always wonderful, goes without saying, but Disclosure drop a silky yet subdued beat and liquid bassline that Ms Reid soars gently above, and the track is amoungst the best of both groups' catalogues.

4
Chasing Shadows
Frankmusik

After his tamer US-friendly sophomore effort, Frankmusik's third record "Between" is a glorious return to crazy. Back are the slightly unhinged Freddie Mercury excursions into ridiculously high falsetto, back are the hypertechnopop beats and burbling synths, and most importantly, back is the fun. Sporting a Passion Pit-esque cutesy vocal sample and probably the most joyous chorus of his since "Confusion Girl", "Did Love" is my personal favourite off the record, BUT the real emotional peak of the record comes with it's opening track, the melodramatic, thunderously over the top power ballad "Chasing Shadows", which is one of the most poignant tracks the man has ever written.

3
American Girl
Bonnie McKee

Singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee's cheesy powerpop anthem "American Girl" sounds a lot like Katy Perry and Ke$ha. And so it should. She's been writing for them for years. "American Girl", free to download by the way, unheard of for a song of this calibre (at least in terms of $$$), is a greatest hits of every hook she has (most likely) been behind over the last 5 years. "I'll never say that I'm sorry, I am an American Girl" she yells at the climax, and knowing how long the 29-year old has been working behind the scenes, it's impossible not to be won over. She's written so many big "Teenage Dream" style songs over the years, she deserves to keep one for herself. And it's a belter. And if that's not enough, check out the cameo-saturated video - she's certainly not short on popstar references.

2
Defeated No More feat. Ed Macfarlane
Disclosure

Something a little experimental but thoroughly brilliant from the Disclosure boys. Friendly Fires' Ed Macfarlane's performance on the slightly slower and lustrous "Defeated No More" is so distinct that the track feels like a full blown Friendly Fires collaboration. It's warm pulsating pads and tropical, soulful vibe meshes with the dance duo's deep house basslines and crisp beats like a match made in Ibiza heaven. The longest track on the album, and appropriately so, as its glorious "Pala" groove gets the time to breathe it deserves.

1
High Society
Betty Who

Hailing from Australia, who seem to be doing pretty well for themselves economically whilst the rest of us weep into our Poundland Rice Krispies, it's no wonder Betty Who sounds so elated. But the dramatic synthpop Ms Who brings overseas is downright infectious, and "High Society" has the euphoric energy to make even the most dreary of us feel high on life. But in fact, it's the burbling basslines taken from Robyn's best shouts, hooks the size of China and a rally for us all to drink "Chardonnay through the day". It's a joyous slice of pop heaven that'll make any europop fan's heart skip a beat, and there's plenty more where that came from on her FREE "The Movement" EP, available to download on her website.

LIVE REVIEW - Niki and the Dove @ XOYO - 28/05/12

So after postponing their much anticipated gig on the 16th due to illness (and let's face it, most of us were ill around that time anyway), Sweden's new synthpop sensation Niki and the Dove finally make it to the east london stage at XOYO.

Bad news first. The incredible excitement of seeing fellow up and coming swedish indie-girl-ghetto-rap-lectro act Elliphant is shattered when we find out she is no longer performing. I admit, I was looking forward to hearing "TeKKno Scene" live just as much as "DJ, Ease My Mind" or "Tomorrow".

Instead, the opening act is Duologue, a pleasant enough synth-tinged indie band, who sound like Keane on record, but the XOYO sound system, provides some oomph into their languorous indie soundscapes. Epic sounding closer "Push It" manages to get a relatively subdued crowd going with its relentless dance pulse.

By 9.30, the time N&TD are due on, and the venue is packed. However, it's another half hour or casual sound-checks before the lights dim, spotlights begin to swarm the crowd, and a the intro music begins. As the band move onstage in comedic (I assume) slow motion to this music, which sounds a lot like a butter advert with its contended strings and inoffensive drums.

Gustaf Karlof, "The Dove" begins to play around with synth loops, not recognizable from any of their songs, and the crowd is yet to be convinced. Then Malin Dahlstrom, "Niki", opens her mouth to utter some startling yet beautiful notes, the bassline to "Mother Protect" drops, and suddenly the band have us transfixed for the following 60 minutes. This extended live version of "Mother Protect" is absolutely stunning, the crowd cheering when the triumphant pan-pipe melody finally bursts into life. Following with a COLLOSAL "Drummer", and then ridiculously catchy 80s-friendly album track "Somebody", the band have XOYO in the palm of their hand.

Even unknown track "Taylor", dedicated to Malin's best friend, whom she informs us she has lost, and urges us all to call our best friends, as she is "still waiting to make my call". It's a touching moment, and the performance itself is understated and clearly heartfelt, and a wonderful addition to the show. "Last Night", timid on record, becomes a singalong anthem live, with it's cute refrain of "Last night we got married in a taxi", and closing duo of "DJ, Ease My Mind" and "Tomorrow" could not have been better received.

Yes, there were only 7 songs played. And yes, I feel that tracks such as "The Fox" and "In Our Eyes" would've gone down a treat. But this incredibly quirky, incredibly loveable and incredibly Swedish band turned 7 songs into a musical journey, extended cuts, previously unheard musical interludes, tiger masks (!), light-up rings on their fingers.

Even the massively self-indulgent hyper-rave outro of "Tomorrow", taking up a good quarter of the show, cancelling out the need for an encore, was a delight, with Gustaf chucking rhythm over rhythm and bassline over bassline until the band take their leave and the track is left to swallow itself whole as the audience stands stunned.

If this is what Niki & The Dove are capable of after a single album, there is no doubt that with a bigger catalogue future shows will be even more groundbreaking.

TOP 10 SONGS OF APRIL.

Some nice little bits and bobs this month, and a few absolute tunes, as you can see below. Enjoy!

10
Joyce
"Keep the Lights On" (Bayou Remix)

A more approachable, uplifting and altogether more addictive version of the synthpop singer's single, thwacking us with a beat as opposed to the original's subtle shuffle.



9
Disclosure
"Boiling" (feat. Sinead Harnett)

Slight, gorgeous ambient 2 step by the rising stars of the genre, with ethereal vocals provided by Sinead Harnett.



8
Yppah
"Soon Enough" (feat. Anomie Bell)

Relatively unknown electronica act pull out this acoustically driven, haunting number from their subtle yet effective "Eighty One" record.



7
Jessie Ware
"110%"

Airy, gentle and hypnotic ambient techno, this is further proof how relevant Jessie Ware is as a solo artist, showcasing her aching, seductive tones as opposed to utilizing those pipes to the full potential we've all heard from her.



6
Major Lazer
"Get Free" (feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors)

Sounding as much like a Dirty Projectors song as a Major Lazer one, this unusual yet compelling reggae number is besmirched with spiralling clean guitars (that would've fit perfectly well on DP's excellent last record "Bitte Orca") and Amber's ever-alarming yelps and hollers.




5
Orbital
"Wonky" (feat. Lady Leshurr)

Absolutely brilliantly bonkers electro-techno-whatever track, totally redefining the band, with a riviting performance by energetic rapper Lady Leshurr. Check out The Knife-esque mid-section. Crazy good.

One of the funniest videos I've seen in a while also. Treat your kitty right.



4
Elliphant
"Techno Scene" (feat. Adam Kanyama)

A knockout Electro-Hop/Dancehall number from none other but the country of weird-out electro itself, Sweden. Elliphant's flourishes in her ghetto persona, with a chorus hook that is impossible to ignore, and those beats and siren synths are spot on.



3
Mister Lies
"Cleam"

Mister Lies resides somewhere between where Burial lays to rest and The Weeknd gets up in the morning. Shimmering ambient R&B beats and gentle pads give way to distant guitar chords and mangled yet lovely vocal samples. Just as gorgeous, if not moreso, than anything The Weeknd has produced thus far.



2
Lotus Plaza
"Strangers"

Whereas Deerhunter's lead singer Bradford Cox's solo outfit Atlas Sound showcases where all the odd and crazy comes from in his main band, the lead guitarist Lockett Pundt's solo outfit Lotus Plaza shows us where beautiful tracks such as "Earthquake" and the unforgettable "Desire Lines". From latest record "Spooky Action at a Distance", "Strangers" follows the dramatic structure of "Desire Lines", but whilst "Desire Lines" plowed mercilessly on until it consumed itself, the lead guitar line of the "Strangers" outro soars freely into the sky, and the track slows down purposely once, then twice, before the track evaporates completely.



1
Jessie Ware
"Running"

Embodying the essence of the best songs Sade has created in her lifetime, Jessie Ware's voice ranges from a murmur to a triumphant, desperate cry of "It keeps happening", as the lush, soulful backing irresistibly serenades her in return and challenges her remarkable voice to better things. The songwriting is complex yet head and shoulders above anything in the charts for years. This girl deserves to be as big as her voice.

Elliphant - TeKKno Scene (feat. Adam Kanyama)

Sweden is known for it's weird pop music scene, from The Knife's otherworldly squeals and blips to Robyn's androgynous ghetto princess persona. So it's no surprise to find that Elliphant is from Stockholm. First appearing over here in the UK in an "introducing" article in The Guardian, with an "Eye of the Tiger"-sampling, droning piece of Swede-lectro pop, "In The Jungle", that was a bit hard to swallow, but follow up release "TeKKno Scene" goes down a treat. A moombahton rhythm propels the track underneath Diplo-favoured synth sirens, and Elliphant's distorted rapping sounds like a call to arms and the dance-floor simultaneously. This isn't the last we've heard from her.