It's finally Friday and you've managed to survive another week at work. Hurrah! Here's a little present to celebrate: ten songs, all wrapped up in one neat little post.
Sam Gellaitry- Temple
Sam Gellaitry is an 18 year old producer from Scotland who is hearing up to release his debut EP, Short Stories, on LA label Soulection in Fberuary. Despite the fact that his Dad apparently makes bagpipes, Gellaitry's music sounds nothing like his homeland. It's a combustion of hip-hop and nu-disco sounds which constantly chops and changes. It's exactly what you'd expect from a you producer who reps for a generation to which patience doesn't exist. Myself included.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/soulection/sam-gellaitry-temple-short-stories-out-february-17th/[/soundcloud]
Lapalux- Closure (Feat. Szjerdene)
Lapalux's Guuurl was one of our favourite releases of 2013 so we're pretty happy to here he's prepping for the release of a new album called Lustmore. The producer has dropped the closing track of the album suitably titled Closure and it features the dulcet tones of Szjerdene. It's definitely one of his most accessible tracks yet, with a heavy RnB influence present. It's more than enough to make us very excited for the LP.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/lapalux/closure-ft-szjerdene[/soundcloud]
Shlohmo- Buried
2015 s already shaping up to be one hell of a yer for music. One of the reasons for that statement is that Shlohmo is planning to release his new album Dark Red on 7th April but until then he's teasing us with Buried. Buried is a characteristically dark, brooding tune that heaves with heavy synths and mournful beats. One minute it commands complete and utter stillness and the next it demands you thrash your head about. There are some serious rock influences here which is awesome to hear. Something aesthetically on point for the artist and yet also boundary-pushing. Catch Shlohmo this May at Berlin Festival.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/shlohmo/buried[/soundcloud]
How To Dress Well and TALA- The One
In 24 hours I have overcome a hangover, a brain-freeze and immense ramen noodle cravings and while this sounds impressive, in 24 hours Tom Krell and TALA have come up with The One. The One is a result of the Yours Truly series which sees two artists create a song together in just a day. This is one of the best tracks the come from the series yet with the pair crafting a throwback RnB tune that compares to something like My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keys with a. Little more drama. There are two version of the song, one by each artist, with How To Dress Well's bringing the soul and TALA's delivering a denser production. Both are spot on.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/howtodresswell/the-one[/soundcloud]
Kaytranada- Drives Me Crazy (Feat. Vic Mensa)
This is pretty much exactly what music in 2015 sounds like with Canadian producer Kaytranada enlisting Vic Mensa showing what results when two of music's biggest hopes come together. Drive Me Crazy sees Kaytranada stick to a woozy hip-hop aesthetic with more accentuated beats that his last track, Leave Me Alone. Both tracks will feature on his debut album which is set to be dropped via XL Records. Drive Me Crazy is definitely the stronger of the two, with Mensa adding an undeniable personality to the producer's after-dark soundscape.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/kaytranada/drive-me-crazy-featuring-vic-mensa[/soundcloud]
Mikal Cronin- Made My Mind Up
Mikal Cronin is a man who destiny confuse things. His forthcoming third album, announced this week, will be titled MCIII and follows his sophomore album, MCII. Catch the pattern? While not boring, his songwriting is just as straightforward as demonstrated by his fuzzed-out new track, Made My Mind Up. The track has a little more grunt to it than anything off his last album with howling guitars joined by confident, bashful vocals. As per usual, his biggest strength is his melodic, delectable guitar licks that just sooth the soul.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/mergerecords/mikal-cronin-made-my-mind-up/[/soundcloud]
JOY.- Weather
Have you heard enough of us banging on about Brisbane wonder-kid JOY.? We're going to keep doing it for one more moment if that's ok because she's got this new track called Weather and, go dammit, it's great again. It's a down-tepo, melancholic track which sees JOY. trill like an angel over thick synths and clapping beats. Her Stone EP is set to be a stunner and if not then we'll be done talking about her. Somehow we doubt that will happen.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/joy-aus/weather[/soundcloud]
Marina and the Diamonds- I'm A Ruin
There's nothing quite like a Marina and the Diamonds melody. When she rolls out a corker it's like nothing else, as we experienced on the hook of the title track of her forthcoming album Froot. She may have gotten a little introspective with the last two tracks Happy and Immaculate but on I'm A Ruin her pop muscles are being flexed once again. It's a mid-tempo number with none of the glitz and groove of Froot but it's no less satisfying. The hook on the chorus is like honey on the tongue with Marina's vocals reaching for the stratosphere and sliding through runs like it's nobodies business. Let's have this album now, please. Our bodies are ready.
Courtney Barnett- Pedestrian At Best
It feels like Melbourne singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett has already reached iconic Australian status but in reality, she’s only just gearing up to release her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. The first single from said album is Pedestrian At Best which sees Barnett at her thrashing, droning best. She’s brilliant, sarcastic, beautifully off-kilter and probably at her most aggressive yet. She is to Australian accents what Alex Turner was to British accents.
Late Nights (Feat. Father & Abra)- Hiko Momoji
A sleepover of the saucy kind, Late Nights features Father and Abra exchanging cute, at times cheeky, banter, enveloped in Hiko Momoji's cushy production. Conceptualising the warm comfort that only a body of the opposite sex (or same sex, if you're that way inclined) may induce, it's a cuddly, conversational number that's poles apart from Momoji's first, instrument-only, release, Mirage Island.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/hikomomoji/late-nights-feat-father-abra/[/soundcloud]
