It's a long weekend for some (namely us) and tunes will be necessary, very necessary. There's no way you can get through three days of spare time with conversation and outdoor activity. Eventually you're going to need to press play and turn up dat volume. Here's to the heat, here's to good music, here's to noise complaints all in the name of throbbing music. Go get 'em, tigers.
Andras & Oscar- Looking Back
Andras & Oscar otherwise known as Andras Fox and Oscar Key Sung are about to release a record together titled Cafe Romantica. They’re channeling a minimal, early ‘90s vibe both visually and sonically and absolutely nailing it. Looking Back is the latest track to emerge from their treasure chest and it’s a nostalgic, funky-tune that channels the same kind of vibe that Dev Hynes did with Solange. Oscar is, of course, a supreme vocalist and songwriter and Andras perfectly complements that with his tinny beats. The album is out 17 October. Don’t sleep people.
Fossa Beats- Goals (Dugong Jr “Rock The Boat” Edit)
So we’re trying to make sense of what’s happening here and as far as we can tell, Melbourne producer Dugong Jr has done a little re-edit of Fossa Beats, Goals and injected Aaliyah’s Rock The Boat into the mix. The result is a dream-scape of whispy RnB vocals and swirling synths. It’s an effortless piece of work from this Dolphin enthusiast who’s also repping in Australia for one of our favourite labels/collectives Moving Castle.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/dugongjr/fossa-beats-goals-dugong-jr-edit[/soundcloud]
Tinashe- Bet (Feat. Devonte Hynes)
This week Tinashe teamed up with Dev Hynes on new track Bet and dropped her entire album for stream and we fell into a state of bliss for at least 32-34 hours. We may have fallen out of that blissful state in order to continue on real life but we can still appreciate Bet. Bet falls into more of a contemporary, Kelela-like style of RnB, but Hynes’ presence is still felt by way of that perfect guitar solo at the end. Tinashe, as always, sounds like velvet.
Lorde- Yellow Flicker Beat
So, Lorde has had a worldwide #1 with Royals, followed it up with a brilliant album, Pure Heroine and is now curating the new Hunger Games soundtrack, all before she even turns 18. At 18 our biggest achievements were downing a bottle of Passion Pop and memorising the words to The Veronicas Untouched (ironically of course), but each to their own I guess. Yellow Flicker Beat is the first track from the upcoming Hunger Games soundtrack and sees Lorde in her wheelhouse of dark, crawling beats and brooding vocals. The electronic stylings that sit behind the song help make the verses captivating.
Maluca- Trigger
Rumour has it that Maluca is set to feature on the upcoming Robyn album but for now she’s doing her own thang and doing it damn well. She has released music with Mad Decent in the past but she’s releasing Trigger on New York label RPM MSC. The song latin-inspired dance track that bubbles under subtly in the verses and releases itself in the chorus. It says M.I.A and Robyn as much as it says shake those hips like Shakira Shakira. It feels like she’s taken an all-out EDM song and paired it back to its core, revealing a brilliantly melodic backbone.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/maluca-mala/trigger_single[/soundcloud]
Beacon- Fault Lines
Even though we’re going into Summer, there’s always a need for some dark, deeply introverted music when dem lonely feels come round. Beacon are a duo from Brooklyn making glossy, yet underlyingly industrial electronica. Fault Lines is the first track from their forthcoming EP L1 and it’s an understated masterpiece. A soulful vocal weaves in between a jittering beats and late-night synths, making the heartbeat race and the hands clamour. It’s one of those songs that sticks with you from the moment it first pulsates and grips you until its flickering finale.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/beacon-fault-lines[/soundcloud]
Montgomery- Pinata
The identity of Aussie songstress Montgomery is all a bit of a mystery right now but it seems the strength of her songs is doing all the talking for her. Pinata is her first official single and is much more immediate than War Cry, which was released a few weeks ago. She coos in sweet tones over a comparatively dark instrumental bolstered by wobbling bass. “I’m your pinata, crack me open like you always do”, is a great pop metaphor too, btw.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/iohyouparty/montgomery-pinata1[/soundcloud]
Les Sins- Why
Don those flares, slap on them platforms and shuffle dat booty straight onto the dancefloor. You’ll be prepared to commit Les Sins this weekend as the smooth grooves of Why provides perfect excuse for daggy dancing and debauchery. With ‘70s-inspired guitar licks and Nate Salman’s shimmying, reverberated vocals sharing similarities with Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, this track will take you from office to disco in exactly four minutes and three seconds.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/company-record-label/les-sins-why-ft-nate-salman-1[/soundcloud]
Sir Sly - You Haunt Me (SoySauce Edition)
Because, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of salty MSG on the weekend? Sir Sly has said of the inspiration behind the track:
“One day I was on Skyping my friend. Then Ryan Hemsworth magically appeared. Stunned, I asked Ryan a question ( I don’t remember bc I was so stunned). He didn’t respond. Instead he stood there quietly. Majestically. Looking into my eyes. Then he gently picked up a vine of green grapes on the table in front of him. He raised the vine toward his mouth as I started to salivate with every inch it got closer to his. Then he started to suck on a single green grape silently staring without saying a single word for 15 seconds. Then the video call ended. I was so inspired and made this in honor of the grape. This is a story about a green grape and Ryan Hemsworth’s mouth.”
Well, that’s a good excuse as any to pop this one onto your weekend setlist.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/dj_soysauce/sir-sly-you-haunt-me-soysauce-edition[/soundcloud]
Lapsley- Falling Short
This is one for your Sunday. Or the Monday if you’re in a state that celebrates the public holiday (hootie hoo!) Featured on Radio 1, this smooth tune from Liverpool songstress, Annie Mac will soothe your aching head and tired legs after pushing yourself to the very limits over the weekend. Wearing her heart on her sleeve and laying her voice on the line, Lapsley is certainly not falling short on this delightful melody. Enjoy with a cool glass of water and a handful of Panadol Rapid.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/hollylapsleyfletcher/falling-short[/soundcloud]
