Top 10 Tracks of April 2013. (FREE DOWNLOADS)

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 a Jessie Ware track, with the subtle, addictive funk that London neighbours Bondax have made a name for themselves in." READ MORE.

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."