It's not easy to write and produce a song. Believe me if it were we'd be doing it and not writing about it. That's why we should give these ten songs, the best of the week, our tender love and care. Listen to them, caress them, spend time with them. If you do that for seven days, we promise you next week we'll bring you ten more and you can chuck the ones you hated from this week and move on. Sound good?
LUCIANBLOMKAMPF
From Afar
Melbourne's LUCIANBLOMKAMPF only release his debut album Post-Nature this time last year and now he's already smacking us with round two. From Afar is the first single from his forthcoming second album and it's probably his most impressive output to date. It's a track that just continues to flourish over its four minute duration, ending in a dense, affecting climax. He had a little chat with us following the release of the track to let us know a few things about it.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/lucianblomkamp/from-afar-2[/soundcloud]
Grace Mitchell
Jitter
Every so often there comes along a track like this that is just a certified banger and there's not much else you can say about it. That's exactly what Portland newcomer Grace Mitchell has delivered this week with Jitter. It premiered on Beats 1 Radio this week and her Raceday EP followed very soon after. The whole thing is excellent but start with this one and see how you go.
DJ Dodger Stadium
You Don't Have To Be Alone
DJ Dodger Stadium, the collaboration between LA’s Samo Sound Boy and Jerome LOL, have followed up 2014’s Friend Of Mine with a brand new cut You Don’t Have To Be Alone. Following the same repetitive aesthetic that made their debut so mind-bending, the pair have also drawn on sunshine-coated house vibes. It’s definitely one of their lightest tunes to date and comes right on time for the end of Summer in the US.
ODESZA
Lights (Feat. Little Dragon)
ODESZA are gearing up to repackage 2014’s excellent In Return with a few instrumentals and new tracks including this one with Little Dragon titled Light. If you’re familiar with Little Dragon’s work on SBTRKT’s Wildfire (If not, you’ve been napping since 2011), you’d be aware that frontwoman Yukimi Nagano is a damn good dance vocalist and she proves it once again here with Light. It’s a little more blissful than Wildfire - a slow-burning jam that makes way for Nagano’s beautiful harmonies.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/odesza/light-feat-little-dragon[/soundcloud]
Gavin Turek
Surrender (Produced By TOKiMONSTA)
Earlier this year TOKiMONSTA told us that she was working on a record with newcomer Gavin Turek. "I want this record to lift her up as an artist on her own but it will definitely have the sort of aesthetic that we have together," she said and listening to Surrender from that record it seems like she's nailed the brief. It doesn't sound like TOKiMONSTA's solo work, instead it's a blend of electronica and more funk/disco influences that seem to come from Turek. It's a smooth record proving that these two are an unlikely but perfect combination. It's taken from the mini-album You're Invited out 28th August.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/young-art-records/surrender-1[/soundcloud]
HONNE
Loves The Jobs You Hate
Electro-pop duo HONNE are starting to gain some momentum and this week dropped Loves The Jobs You Hate from their forthcoming EP Over Lover out 2nd September. The track was debuted as Annie Mac's Hottest Record In The World on Radio 1 meaning it's some seriously good shit and we agree. It's got a definite Chet Faker vibe to it but they have traded the electronica for the funk giving us more Nile Rodgers than Flume. It also has one of those choruses that effortlessly takes flight and gets under your skin immediately. Keep an eye on HONNE.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/hellohonne/loves-the-jobs-you-hate[/soundcloud]
Lana Del Rey
Terrence Loves You
Lana Del Rey revealed the tracklist to her forthcoming LP Honeymoon this week due out 18th September. She was then asked by paparazzi as she was exiting an airport which song was her favourite on the album. She actually responded and said this one, Terrence Loves You. Why? "Because it's jazzy," she says. And she's not wrong. It's a beautiful, sweeping, jazz-tinged number close to the title-track than High By The Beach. LDR just keeps getting better and it's an excellent thing to watch unravelling.
Alessia Cara
Hotline Bling
Alessia Cara has only released one original and done a cover of Bad Blood and now Drake's Hotline Bling and we've already decided she's the best thing to happen to 2015. This latest cover she did for Channel V, once again turning raps into sung verses. Her voice has these rich, soulful undertones that means she can insert personality into even the shortest of notes. This track is a perfect match for her voice and she hits it out of the park. Her EP Four Pink Walls is out next Friday, 28th August.
Banoffee
With Her
If you’re like us you’ve been hanging out for Martha Brown AKA Banoffee‘s next move following 2014’s Got It and judging by her latest track With Her it was worth the wait. The song, which was co-produced by Oscar Key Sung, is taken off her forthcoming EP Do I Make You Nervous? out 2nd October. The track sees her channel some more deep-house influences melding them with R&B vibes (the tail-end of the track appropriates the lyrics of Mario’s Let Me Love You). It’s probably the first time we’ve got to call a Banoffee song a banger and we couldn’t be happier.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/banoffeeme/with-her-2[/soundcloud]
Habits
Ether
Habits are a Melbourne duo who have been working their way up the Aus music chain supporting the likes of Banoffee Oscar Key Sung and Black Vanilla. This track Ether is taken from their forthcoming EP Ugly Cry and it's a twinkling yet industrial cut haunted by whispy vocals. There are pop cues in their but also a few R&B influences apparent. Best of all it sounds like not much else in the Aus music spectrum right now and that's what interests you straight away.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/habits4ever/ether[/soundcloud]
