Come here for the Beyoncé, stay here for the other rad tunes - here are the 10 songs you need to hear this week.
Noire
Minds
Sydney band Noire are fast becoming our favourite newcomers of the year and their latest EP named after the brilliant single Baby Blue just gives us even more reason to believe in that. Minds is one of the only new tracks that appears on the EP and it further establishes their brooding aesthetic. The vocals are breathy and whimsical while the guitar strums are icy as per usual. Another knockout from these guys.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/noireband/pilgrims?in=noireband/sets/baby-blue[/soundcloud]
Crepes
Size Of Your Town
Size Of Your Town is taken from Ballarat born band Crepes' EP Cold Summers and it's a gentle, beautifully-melodic ode to their hometown. Sounding a like a cross between Foxygen and Tobias Jesso Jr. it's driven by perky keys that would've made a 1970s Elton John jealous. It's so easy to listen to because the band make what they're doing sound so effortless. Lead-singer Tim Karmouche has the voice of an old soul which brings an undeniable charm to the track.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/crepesband/size-of-your-town[/soundcloud]
Porsches
Karate
Sydney duo Porsches first new single in over 10 months is a super smooth return to the scene. Karate bubbles under with a sexy beat that's complimented by a falsetto likely to induce some baby making. Judging by their crowd at BIGSOUND and the subsequent reaction to their performance, Porsches are set to be one of the most hyped acts in the coming months. They make highly, accesible tunes, have a great onstage charisma and also have their look down pat. triple j will eat this up.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/porsches/karate[/soundcloud]
Naughty Boy
Runnin' (Lose It All) (Feat. Beyoncé and Arrow Bejamin)
Naughty Boy melted everybody's hearts with the 15 second trailer of his new single Running' (Lose It All) but now the whole thing has surfaced and it's even more heartbreaking. There's nothing like a big, stirring Beyoncé moment to get the tears flowing and she brings that in bucket loads here. Her verse before the beat kicks in is utterly stunning and even when she swaps vocal duties with British newcomer Arrow Benjamin the magic doesn't subside. A huge single that's no doubt going to be a mainstay on commercial radio over the next few months.
Louis The Child
It's Strange (Feat. K.Flay)
There's something really cute about this new track by Chicago producer Louis The Child and San Fran singer K.Flay. "It's strange, but I don't need space from you and every little thing you do I like," K.Flay sings over a really warm, effortless beat that just makes you feel so gooey inside that it's almost hard to handle. K.Flay's vocals are smokey and she herself has a really distinct charm to her which helps this song win you over on first listen.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/louisthechild/itsstrange[/soundcloud]
Ellie Goulding
On My Mind
Oooooooooh, she's gone and done it, she's penned a response to Ed Sheeran's Don't which is widely said to be about Ellie Goulding. On My Mind's lyrics are basically a response to that track - "you wanted my heart but I just liked your tattoos," she sings. The story of it all aside, the tracks a Max Martin banger that's a little different for Goulding but it's her distinctive voice that ties all her songs together so it's not really that different in reality. Go Gouldo, you're onto a winner with this one.
Disclosure/Sam Smith
Hotline Bling
Drake's Hotline Bling is fast becoming the most covered song of all time. Disclosure and Sam Smith are the latest ones to take the song on and they may also be the best. They've completely taken it out of its R&B box and placed it into their dance world. Apparently Smith had a bit of a sore throat at the time, bless, but you can't really tell here. He's soulful as ever and the three just meld together so well just like Mary, Kate and Ashley (wait, is that two or three people?). Anyway, this should tide you over until Caracal drops next week.
Sarah Blasko
I'd Be Lost
Sarah Blasko has always reinvented herself from album to album in some sort of way but this one seems to be her most drastic yet. I'd Be Lost is taken from the forthcoming album Eternal Return and it sees her adopt a few electronic elements. She's really channelling her inner-pop sensibilities here and it really works. It's her most immediate lead single to date, really hooking you from the first listen. Of course, her beautiful vocals remain intact and they really grab at the heartstrings in the chorus.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/sarahblasko/id-be-lost[/soundcloud]
Autre Ne Veut
Panic Room
Autre Ne Veut is bringing out some really creepy shit for forthcoming Age Of Transparency and the video for Panic Room typifies that. The video for Panic Room sees him peform in front of a judging panel acapella in what is a very awkward, eery sequence. The actual version of the song is much less haunting but just as affecting. His voice is spectacular through the whole thing, showing a really gritty, rough side and the instrumental is pure R&B bliss.
Mansionair
Speak Easy
Aussie band Mansionair have played everything from Laneway to Splendour In The Grass this year and now they're about to go on tour with CHVRCHES who handpicked them to support them on a huge tour. Speak Easy is their latest single and it's a twinkling, intimate piece of beauty that might well be our favourite output from them yet. It continues to build and build throughout its four minute duration ending in a spectacular climax.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/mansions-2/speak-easy[/soundcloud]
