GivePopAChance's Summer Playlist 2014!

GivePopAChance is going on a hiatus, but before we go, we'll leave you with our Summer 2014 playlist, featuring our favourite pop and dance tracks of the year so far. 

From balearic nu disco to edgy trap-flecked R&B, glorious summery dancepop to simmering electropop, the playlist showcases what we consider to be the very best summer anthems you'll hear all year, from sunrise to sunset to twilight.

Have a great summer!

- Joe, 17.05.14

NEW MUSIC: Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Rather Be

Clean Bandit are what I call a truly great pop act. They manage to appeal to the trendy crowd with their deep house credibility (the Gorgon City collaboration in particular helped them there) whilst still managing to avoid genres and maintain a level of musical freshness and creativity that lacks in so many modern acts.

"Rather Be" isn't chart-oriented enough to be considered straight up pop and isn't deep and dancey enough to be considered house. If anything it recalls a time in the early 00s, when disco-meets-ibiza chillout was the dancefloor filling sound du jour, and easy going house-lite tunes like Milky's "Just The Way You Are" and DB Boulevard's "Point Of View" were crossing over from the underground to the charts.  However, whilst these decade-old songs lack 'edge' compared to the sharp bass-heavy crossover tunes we hear on the radio in 2014, Clean Bandit manage to bring some energy and back bone to the sound they throw back to. In the process they succeed in combining the best of house in 2004 with the best of house in 2014. 

Their trademark string quartet intro gives way to perky raindrop synths and a life affirming piano house chorus, sung with gusto by Jess Glynne. No doubt it's the remixes that will make it to the clubs (particularly the ultra cool garage take from All About She), but the emotional peak that the original version reaches is definitely the place I'd rather be.

FOR FANS OF: Mausi, Disclosure, Tensnake

POPDAR: Active Child - Subtle (ft. Mikky Ekko)

Active Child, the king of white boy R&B, has never really given the uptempo thing a chance before - why would he? Similarly sensitive and loosely urban male acts such as The Weeknd and How To Dress Well were flying high when he released his forlorn debut You Are All I See, and his powerful falsetto-led anti-anthems were a calling card given out almost exclusively by him. 

But on latest single "Subtle", Active Child jumps ship from to a distinctly more dancefloor-friendly vessel and the risk pays off, revealing a whole new area of talent from the melodramatic singer/songwriter.

"Subtle" isn't a word you would have ever associated with Active Child, and even less with the song he eventually names as such. He adopts a surprisingly sparse yet colourful 80s electropop backdrop and suddenly you can drawn distinct lines between Active Child's own voice and that of 80s icon Jimmy Somerville. And when the Blade Runner-esque brass synths drop the 80s transformation is complete. Mikky Ekko's Prince-flecked feature spot manages to add another level of the era to sharpen up proceedings.

"Subtle" is taken from Active Child's upcoming Rapor EP, due for release on October 22.

FOR FANS OF: Goldroom, Tensnake

Top 5 Tracks of August 2013.

5 - LADY GAGA - APPLAUSE

Although she cited a "pop emergency" for an excuse to release "Applause" earlier, we already know Gaga is an impatient popstress - let us not forget her rush releasing "Born This Way" in 2011. However, unlike that massively underwhelming comeback, "Applause" is surprisingly immediate. It suffers from all the usual immovable Gaga-isms - terrible annunciation, shameless european dance synths and a bizarre hammer house of horror vocal - but you can't argue with a chorus like this. The "A-R-T-P-O-P" hook at the end is brilliant too. "Applause" is definitely the right side of Gaga.

4 - THE SATURDAYS - DISCO LOVE
As successful as The Saturdays have been, they do have a tendency to release music as personality-less as their brand. Every song feels like it could be a debut single for any flash in the pan girl-group. It looks like they're trying to shake this anonymity by finding their "thing". However with new singles "Gentleman" and now "Disco Love", they seem to be settling on being the new Girls Aloud - quirky lyrics and genre-hopping. "Gentleman" was the a step too far down novelty lane, but "Disco Love" is surprisingly uplifting. And when you don't flinch at "it's Donna Summer all year long", you know they're onto something. 

3 - LUKE FINCHER - NO RESPONSE

It's quite a feat standing out from the hoards of soulful male singers from the US and UK - but Fincher has something special. The 17 year old blows them all out of the water in one incredible performance on "No Response". Over reverb-drenched Weeknd-esque R&B synths, Fincher hits notes with an effortless confidence and strength. Every tasteful melismatic flick and achingly tender note shimmers and captivates. And he absolutely kills the falsetto climax in the heart-stopping chorus.

2 - ICONA POP - GIRLFRIEND
Although almost identical to "I Love It", with any luck "Girlfriend" will be as big as their breakthrough hit. The key to the girl's success is their lack of glamour and ego, and this makes the simplicity and commerciality of their anthemic dancepop go from potentially tedious to charming, tongue-in-cheek and 'feel-good' in the most infectious sense. Even the track's most obvious sexually ambiguous undertones can be forgiven.

1 - TENSNAKE FT. FIORA - 58BPM
Finally released in its glorious 5 minute form, "58bpm" is a sensual slice of 80s soul heard through the future bass kaleidoscope... at 58 beats per minute. And it's the ultimate comedown anthem - perfect to soundtrack a reluctant end to the sunniest, most joyous summer in memory. The track is so daringly slow (indeed that's the main feature) that is seems suspended in mid-air, as a single warm chord lingers tentatively above a lurching beat, as Fiora's vocals seem to melt as the chorus hits. Sadly destined to be underrated, the track is nevertheless the most creative and spellbinding piece of music Tensnake has created to date.

Tensnake - 58bpm (feat. Fiora)

Tensnake may have made a name for himself with his classic balearic house anthem "Coma Cat", as well as the old school 90s dance of "Mainline", but the German producer is far from your run of the mill European dance producer. Anyone who heard the haunting downtempo electronica of his Little Dragon "Ritual Union" remix knows this, and anyone who hears "58bpm" will realize this too.

A one-minute-twelve-second clip of "58bpm" has been circulating the internet since May - a sensual slice of 80s soul heard through the future bass kaleidoscope... at 58 beats per minute. Frustratingly short but revealing just enough to showcase just how gorgeous the track is, it makes sense as to why Tensnake has made us wait for the full 5 minute clip, now available on iTunes.

Because it's the ultimate comedown anthem - perfect to soundtrack a reluctant end to the sunniest, most joyous summer in memory. The track is so daringly slow (indeed that's the main feature) that it seems suspended in mid-air, as a single warm chord lingers tentatively above a lurching beat, as vocals seem to melt as the chorus hits.

Regular collaborator Fiora carries the beautiful vocal humbly without pretense, and what could be a flat-out sexual delivery becomes somewhat bittersweet and melancholic. Sadly destined to be underrated, the track is nevertheless the most creative and spellbinding piece of music Tensnake has created to date.

FOR FANS OF: Goldroom, Active Child, Royksopp

Jessie Ware - Imagine It Was Us

With the help of frequent collaborator Julio Bashmore, Jessie seems to have found a tasty way of staying true to the silky, soulful vibes of her debut record, whilst pleasing the underground dance community she identifies so fondly with. Performing the track frequently on tour this year, Jessie herself has introduced her new single "Imagine It Was Us" as being heavily influenced by Michael and Janet Jackson, and whilst the staccato vocal phrases and funky guitar line are straight from "Thriller" or "Control", Bashmore surrounds Jessie's warm tones with familiar warm synths and an almost european dance beat that ensures the track pushes every guilty pleasure button whilst still being utterly irresistible.

FOR FANS OF: Julio Bashmore, Janet Jackson, Tensnake

TOP 10 SONGS OF OCTOBER.

10
"Your Body"
Christina Aguilera

"...Indeed, it's an obnoxious club anthem, with a chorus ripped straight from Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream", but it's jam packed with (other) hooks, has some top notch yelping from Christina, and is no doubt aeons ahead of the dull "Not Myself Tonight"..."

READ MY REVIEW OF "YOUR BODY" HERE.



9
"I Know You Care"
Ellie Goulding

After all the chirpy synthpop anthems on Lights, it was inevitable that Halcyon would be the "difficult" second album. And indeed it is, and it's a hard record to warm to. Despite a misleadingly uplifting and familiar-sounding single, "Anything Could Happen", on Halcyon as a whole, the butterfly-winged voice of Ms Goulding is no longer accompanied by chopped-up folky guitars and crisp poppy beats. Instead we've got dubsteppy beats, thick walls of electronic sound, and reverb heavy soundscapes. It's not a bad record at all, and it fact it does retain just enough personable character and melody to allow for a little maturity and emotional self-indulgence.

However, one song aside from "ACH" is instantly likeable on the album, and that's the piano ballad "I Know You Care". It's new ground for Ellie in many ways. The only other acoustic number of note in her back catalogue is "Your Song", which was twee and light, sickly in a way, like a Britain's Got Talent entry. "I Know You Care" however, with its gentle piano bobbing up and down like a buoy on a calm sea, showcases a surprisingly restrained vocal from Ellie, one that allows meaning behind the words to resonate. For the first time, the fragility in Ellie's lyrics and voice are really allowed to shine.



8
"22"
Taylor Swift

"...closer to Avril Lavigne pop than to the country anthems of yore, but the hooks are irresistible, the chorus is insanely moreish, and Taylor's voice is twangy and gutsy, and it's quite simply the perfect song for her."

READ MY REVIEW OF "22" HERE.



7
"Thinking About You" (feat. Ayah Marar)
Calvin Harris

Fans of older Calvin Harris material frequently turn their noses up at his newer, more profitable, commercial direction. However, the fact is, this transition from solo artist>producer to producer>solo artist makes his tracks much more tuneful and song-focused than his new-found peers Guetta and Swedish House Mafia. On album highlight "Thinking About You". Credible upcoming pop singer Ayah Marar provides a housey vocal that suits Harris' ibiza-friendly chord sequences perfectly, and the whole track is a perfect meeting of 2004 house and 2012 dance. Say what you like about Harris, but to his credit, he never completely abandons his roots.



6
"The Raver"
Ayah Marar

From feature to focus, Ayah Marar has an underground credibility with a voice to conquer the charts. "The Raver" is the best of both worlds. Like DJ Fresh's "Hot Right Now" but much, much later at night after a lot of drinks and whatever else, "The Raver" breakbeats its way into oblivion and Marar's voice is sexy and sultry as it effortlessly rides the raging beat. A truly invigorating crossover track that could well set in motion a real drum & bass revival in the charts, one that DJ Fresh has been very much alone in instigating thus far.



5
"Talk Through The Night"
Dog is Dead

Indiepop is nauseatingly oversaturated in 2012, you can't move without tripping over an Alt-J or an Of Monsters and Men. However, the good thing about an increased output is that the likelihood of coming across a brilliant tune is tenfold. "Talk Through The Night" is everything an indie anthem should be: youthful, exuberant, nostalgic and, above all, irritatingly catchy. Yet Dog is Dead manage all of this and still manage to be endearing and likeable. Maybe there is hope for indie yet.



4
"Oh Yeah"
Bat For Lashes

A lady who can seemingly do know wrong, Bat For Lashes aka singer/songwriter Natasha Khan, takes a more anthemic, 80s-tinged approach to her wistful, haunting pop on long-awaited third record The Haunted Man, and "Oh Yeah" embodies all its best qualities. Khan's voice is delirious and fluttering as ever, almost lustful as she cries "here am I, looking for a lover to climb inside", and the pivotal synth hook is punchy and striking in a bold step into new sound territory. If Khan had only hinted at anthemic before, it's clear she is warming up more and more to the idea.



3
"The Mother We Share"
CHVRCHES

If Purity Ring cheered up and stopping singing about sternums and teeth clicking they might sound as glorious as scottish electropop act CHVRCHES do on "The Mother We Share". Musically majestic with pop-perfect hooks and a gorgeous melody, this track really shines in its lyrics. Describing a dying relationship, bound together by "the mother we share", the message is gorgeous and poignant. A pop song that can be perfectly pitched lyrically and musically whilst still finding space for creative flair is rare. And judging by the quality of their earlier single "Lies" also, this rare skill is abundant in CHVRCHES.



2
"Mainline" (feat. Syron)
Tensnake

"..."Mainline" itself is out and out 90s, more than a little Inner City with unashamadly hooky and flirtatious brass synths and organ basslines, but its balearic feel is still unmistakably Tensnake. And Syron, for a white girl, she can't half pull off a camp diva growl..."

READ MY REVIEW OF "MAINLINE" HERE.



1
"Tidal Wave" (feat. Alpines)
Sub Focus

"..."Tidal Wave" takes the angelic, La Roux-esque vocals of Alpines, and pairs it with an epic yet jagged edged march that bursts into break-beat just as you get comfy with it, synth fireworks abound..."

READ MY REVIEW OF "TIDAL WAVE" HERE.

Tensnake feat. Syron - Mainline

From playing it cool on "Spoons" to going all out diva on Tensnake's new track "Mainline" shows a surprising diversity from London singer Syron. "Mainline" itself is out and out 90s, more than a little Inner City with unashamadly hooky and flirtatious brass synths and organ basslines, but its balearic feel is still unmistakably Tensnake. And Syron, for a white girl, she can't half pull off a camp diva growl. This is gleefully and joyfully simple and uplifting, the way all Defected House should be. Dancefloors beware.

FOR FANS OF: Inner City, Disclosure, Krystal Klear