Pattern: Msrizag
This week started off with a blast thanks to the MTV VMAs which seemingly featured more controversy than ever and left us with a new Tay Tay video, a new Bieber video and an entire Miley Cyrus album. With that in mind, we'd like to award every artist who released a track this week off the back of that a bravery award because it takes something really profound to outshine a shit storm like the VMAs. Luckily, there were plenty of tracks this week that did exactly that and to them we say well done and acknowledge them below with a short spiel of sorts.
Basenji
Can't Get Enough
Basenji is destroying it right now. His last single Petals picked up rotation on triple and is undoubtedly one of the strongest local tracks of the year, now he goes even one better on his new track Can't Get Enough. It's more of his cute poptronica hybrid driven by melodic, high-pitched vocals and a perky brass-line that are headed straight for the heavens. It's taken from his Trackpad EP which will be sold as a USB that looks like an Evian water bottle which is just fantastic news for all involved.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/futureclassic/basenji-cant-get-enough-1[/soundcloud]
Marc E. Bassy
That's Love (Feat. Ty Dolla Sign)
LA singer Marc E. Bassy has enlisted a big name in Ty Dolla Sign for his latest single That's Love. The track is a total throwback to smooth, mid-tempo R&B bangers with Dolla Sign killing it with a much gentler edge than we're used to with him. There's a bit of autotune at play here, but it really works within this aesthetic and somehow smacks you more in the heart than untampered vocals would've. These two are excellent duet partners to, we must say.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/marc_e_bassy/thats-love-ft-ty-dolla-sign[/soundcloud]
Kelela
Rewind
Kelela's A Message was a stunning start to her 2015 and ever since we've waited for the EP is was supposedly off. Well no more supposedly because the EP is definitely coming on 9th October. It's called Hallucinogen and it will feature the aforementioned as well as this new track Rewind. Rewind was produced by Kelela herself with help from Nugget and Kingdom - the latter had a big hand on her excellent mixtape Cut 4 Me. This one's more upbeat than what we're used to from her but she really delivers serving up silky vocals and crisp '90s-tinged production.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/kelelam/rewind[/soundcloud]
Miley Cyrus
Lighter
Miley's surprise album Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz is a real mixed bag. A REAL MIXED BAG. But that doesn't mean there isn't some plenty of gold on there. In fact, Mike Will Made It, who had a big hand on Bangerz, delivers most of the good stuff on the LP including this one Lighter. Lighter is a beautiful, lingering ballad driven by big, punching drums and a raw vocal from Miley herself. It essentially uses smoking weed as a metaphor for someone always backing her ("when I need the fire, you're always my lighter") but it's really not as dumb as it sounds.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/mileycyrus/lighter[/soundcloud]
Ryan Hemsworth & Lucas
Angel
Last year Seattle producer Lucas dropped a ridiculously beautiful remix of Ryan Hemsworth's One For Me, then later Hemsworth dropped one of Lucas' originals through his Secret Songs project. It makes total sense that the pair have now come together for a collaborative EP led by this track Angel. It's one of the more emotional Hemsworth tunes we've heard with the chopped vocals really heading straight for the heartstrings. Goosebump-inducing is the general consensus on Soundcloud and we have to agree.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/shhsecretsongs/angel[/soundcloud]
Empress Of
Standard
Empress Of's debut album Me is released next week and we've been given plenty of reason to get excited about it. First there was Water Water then there was Kitty Kat and this week we got How Do You Do It? and this one Standard. And it may just be the best one yet. Built upon industrial, post-pop production, Empress Of howls throughout really lengthening her notes and hitting giddy heights on many. Calling it now - Me will be one of the year's best albums.
Friendships
Pedal To The Medal
Nicholas Brown and Misha Grace are Melbourne duo Friendships who are making really tough, forceful electronic music that demands your attention on first listen. Pedal To The Medal is one half of their new double-sided single that also includes Ded Soun Konduktah and it's a primal, tribal-inspired track with heavy-hitting bass and a grinding, repetitive vocal sample. It may sound like audible murder but it's one hell of a thrilling listen - one that feels like your simultaneously listening to dancehall and heavy metal.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/friendships/sets/p2m-dsk[/soundcloud]
World Champion
Avocado
Future Classic have become known for signing some of the finest electronic acts in the country but there's something slightly different about Julian Sudek and Will Campion's World Champion. Their debut track Avocado definitely has electronic stylings but it also has a dreamstate, indie-rock vibe - one that we haven't heard any Future Classic artists dabble in until now. It feels sleek and sexy bound for intergalactic travel. If we had to make a comparison we'd say there a definite nods to Jagwar Ma (probably because it was co-produced by Jono Ma) but even then this feels more bare-boned.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/futureclassic/world-champion-avocado-galaxy[/soundcloud]
Florence + The Machine
Queen Of Peace (Hot Chip Remix)
Florence + The Machine's Queen Of Peace centres around it's massive chorus which on the original is elevated by huge stabs of brass. But in many ways it was crying out for a dance remix where the brass was replaced by climatic synths and that immense amount of energy was translated into euphoria. That's exactly what Hot Chip have done, rebuilding the song on a minimal beat that just continues to build and build until we get that chorus blanketed by dense synths. It sounds just as triumphant as the original but in a completely different way.
Janet Jackson
Unbreakable
Janet Jackson is well and truly back, gearing up for the release of her first album since 2008, Unbreakable. We've already heard the excellent first single No Sleeep and now we have the title track. It's definitely not as modern and forward-thinking as its predecessor but there's a certain charm to Janet singing about undying love over a vintage-sounding beat. The album is out 2nd October via her own label Rhythm Nation.
